Recommendation
Training Needs
- Jewellery -
1st
Selling Skills
2nd
Gemstones Product Knowledge
3rd
Customers Services and Communication Skills
Training Needs
- Watch and Clock -
1st
Watches Product Knowledge
2nd
Watches Repairing and After-Sales Services Knowledge and Skills
3rd
Selling Skills
Training Needs
- Optical -
1st
Customers Services and Communication Skills
2nd
Problem Solving Skills
3rd
Selling Skills
- Regarding the Timepiece Industry, it is recommended that the Government should strengthen the promotion of the Qualifications Framework (QF) and encourage employers to recognise QF qualifications to a greater extent. In the long run, a certification system should be established so that employees can be remunerated and provided with promotion opportunities corresponding to their qualifications.
- As regards the Optical Industry, the Government should consider introducing a licensing system for assistant optometrists so that those assistant optometrists or frontline salespersons currently working in optical centres or eyewear stores can obtain professional qualifications by completing designated courses and accumulating certain experience. It should be helpful in retaining talents and attracting new blood.
- It is recommended that the industries should actively support the Education Bureau’s “Business-School Partnership Programme” and provide more career exploratory activities to secondary school students. The industries should also properly plan these activities to make them more fun and engaging for students, so as to enhance students’ interests in the industries in a more effective way.
- The Government and industries may consider joining hands to organise territory-wide design or repairing competitions, as well as Mainland or overseas exchanges, so that young people can explore the fun of the industries through these kind of engaging activities.
- The Government and industries may also provide support to people who are interested in design with suitable platforms to showcase their designs and convert them into products with commercial value. For example, they may assist young winners of large-scale design competitions to identify factories for production of their designs and channels for product sales.
- At present, there are very few courses specialising in timepiece and eyewear. It is probably because only a limited number of people are interested in these fields, making it difficult for training institutions to gather sufficient students to run a course. To encourage diversified development, the Government may consider subsidising some courses to ensure that people interested in timepiece and eyewear can successfully enroll in relevant courses.
- The Timepiece and Optical Industries should actively support the course delivery of training institutions, by serving as guest lecturers, offering advice on course content, and providing internship opportunities, etc., to broaden the horizons of young people, allow them to have a clearer understanding of the prospects of the industries, and strengthen their intention to join the industries concerned.
- According to the provisions of the Apprenticeship Ordinance, trainees participating in the Earn and Learn Scheme cannot receive on-the-job training outside Hong Kong. Owing to this restriction, most watch employers, whose factories are in the Mainland, cannot provide suitable on-the-job training post to the trainees. It is recommended that the Government should review relevant regulations in due course and explore whether there is any room for relaxation.
- While young people prefer to work with high autonomy, the working modes in most workplaces are still not flexible enough. The industries may need to reflect on the way they work with young people.
- The industries should also expand recruitment targets and open the door to people of different age groups.
