CHAPTER 6
Employment
With the advent of a global knowledge economy, Hong Kong is going through a process of economic restructuring. While the transformation holds promises of new opportunities, it also poses challenges for the workforce. Employees therefore have to adapt to the changing environment, and continually upgrade their skills in order to remain competitive in the labour market. The Government for its part is doing everything it can to facilitate employment through training/retraining and enhanced employment services, safeguard employees' rights and benefits, foster harmonious employer/employee relations and promote occupational safety and health in this changing landscape.
MANPOWER is Hong Kong's most treasured asset. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government aims to ensure that there is a dynamic, well-motivated, adaptable and skilful workforce contributing to Hong Kong's economic competitiveness.
In 2003, the Government continued to devote much effort to facilitating employment. Chaired by the Financial Secretary, the Task Force on Employment has devised a wide range of measures to boost the economy and promote employment since its inception in 1998. The Task Force, comprising senior officials and representatives of the business, employees, training and academic sectors, serves as a high-level forum to tap the views of the community on ways to improve the employment situation. It was expanded in 2002 to include representatives of political parties.
The Government has continued to offer extra help to enhance the employability of the more vulnerable groups in the community. During the year, the Employees Retraining Board offered over 114 400 training places (the capacity being more or less the same as in 2002) to assist eligible workers, especially those displaced or unemployed ones, to re-enter the labour market.
In addition, the Government has continued its efforts to assist young people to enhance their employability through the Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme which provides on-the-job training of six to 12 months to young people.
At the same time, the Government recognises the need to promote good employer-employee relations, enhance the rights and benefits of employees in a way commensurate with Hong Kong's socio-economic development, and protect the safety and health of employees at work.
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