There is hereby created within the South Carolina Department of Labor, the Division of Apprenticeship to administer the South Carolina Voluntary Apprenticeship Act. The Division shall be governed by an Apprenticeship Council composed of three employers and three employees appointed by the Governor upon the advice and consent of the Senate and, in addition, the Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation or his designee, who shall serve ex officio. The Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation or his designee shall serve as chairman of the Council. The Director of the State Commission for Technical Education and the State Director of Vocational Education shall serve as ex officio nonvoting members of the Council. The terms of office of the members of the Apprenticeship Council first appointed by the Governor shall expire as designated by the Governor at the time of making the appointment; one representative each of employers and employees shall be appointed for one year; one representative each of employers and employees shall be appointed for two years; and one representative each of employers and employees shall be appointed for three years. Thereafter, each member shall be appointed for a term of three years and until his successor is appointed and qualifies. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner of original appointment. Each member of the Council, not otherwise compensated by public funds, shall receive per diem, subsistence and mileage as provided by law for state boards, committees and commissions for his services when attending to official duties or assignments when funds provided by federal grants are available for this purpose.