134 | Employment
ex-mentally ill. In 2006, the division launched a series of activities to promote the employment of people with disabilities. It registered 3 695 job-seekers with disabilities and found jobs for 2 493 of them, representing an all-time high placement rate of 67.5 per cent.
Since April 2005, the Labour Department has been implementing the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme to enhance the employability of people with disabilities. The scheme offers pre-employment training to job-seekers with disabilities. A monthly allowance, equivalent to a half-month's pay for each disabled employee engaged (subject to a ceiling of $3,000) is also given to the participating employer for up to three months. At year-end, 606 people had participated in the pre-employment training programme and 565 found work placements.
Employment Agencies
The Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department enforces Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations. It monitors the operation of employment agencies through licensing, inspection and investigation of complaints. In 2006, it issued 1 702 employment agency licences and revoked one.
Preparing People for Work
Careers Guidance
The Careers Advisory Service of the Labour Department, through the promotion. of careers education, helps young people choose a career best suited to their talents, interests and abilities and also supports careers teachers with back-up information. The public can also find careers information on the service website www.labour.gov.hk/careers.
Throughout the year, the service arranged student group visits to its Careers. Information Centre and various commercial and industrial establishments. Its Education and Careers Expo 2006 attracted 198 997 visitors, while the Information Expo for Secondary School Leavers which was co-organised with the Education and Manpower Bureau attracted 15 000 visitors.
Skills Upgrading Scheme
In 2001, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved the allocation of $400 million for the establishment of the Skills Upgrading Scheme (SUS) to provide focused skills training for low skill and low education workers to adapt to the changing economic landscape. By the end of 2006, more than 8 500 classes and over 172 400 training places had been provided under the SUS. The market vending industry was added to the scheme in 2006, bringing the number of industry sectors under the SUS to 24.
Youth Pre-employment Training Programme
The Youth Pre-employment Training Programme was launched in 1999 to enhance the employability of school leavers aged between 15 and 19 through employment-related training, workplace attachment, careers counselling and support