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Employment
launched various employment and promotional programmes, registered 2,686 job seekers with disabilities and secured 2,512 job placements.
The Labour Department's 'Work Orientation and Placement Scheme' improves employment opportunities for persons with disabilities by paying an allowance to encourage employers to provide jobs and employment support. Employers participating in the scheme receive a financial incentive of not more than $4,000 per month from the Labour Department for a maximum period of six months. In 2012, there were 551 job placements under the scheme.
Preparing People for Work
Youth Pre-employment Training Programme and Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme (YPTP&YWETS)
The YPTP&YWETS provides a full range of pre-employment and on-the-job training lasting between six and 12 months for young school leavers aged between 15 and 24 with educational attainment up to sub-degree level. Over the years, the YPTP&YWETS has established an effective platform for Government departments, employers and non-governmental organisations to work together to help young people enhance their employability, improve their job search skills and secure employment. Over 9,400 young school leavers enrolled on the programme in 2011- 12.
Youth Employment Support
The Labour Department operates two youth employment resource centres called 'Youth Employment Start' to offer one-stop advisory and support services to young people aged between 15 and 29 to improve their chances of employment, and to help them secure sustainable employment or self-employment. In 2012, the two centres provided services to 73,758 young people.
Employees Retraining Board
The Employees Retraining Board (ERB) is a statutory body set up under the Employees Retraining Ordinance. Its members include employer and employee representatives, people in the fields of vocational training, retraining and manpower planning, and government officials. The ERB provides, under its 'Manpower Development Scheme, market-driven training and employment support services through about 130 appointed training bodies, operating some 420 training centres across Hong Kong. People aged 15 or above with education attainment up to sub-degree level may enrol on its full-time placement-tied skills training and part-time generic skills training courses or courses under the 'Skills Upgrading Scheme Plus. As at December 2012, there were about 870 courses covering 28 industries.
The ERB runs a 'Youth Training Programme' to help youths aged between 15 and 20 to regain an interest in learning and to plan and develop their careers. In 2012, the ERB launched the 'Employment Set Sail for Youth' courses to provide secondary school graduates with training in vocational skills and assist them to acquire recognised qualifications. The ERB also provides training and employment support to other groups, including new arrivals, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people who have recovered from work injuries and occupational diseases, and rehabilitated ex-offenders.
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