XN000022-1995-08-09 — Page 8

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Survey on students taking up summer jobs

Students were not particularly keen to look for summer jobs and of those who did find employment, their main motive was monetary reward, according to a survey commissioned by the Home Affairs Branch (HAB) and conducted by the Census and Statistics Department.

The survey, involving a sample of 2,192 full-time students aged between 15 and 22, was carried out in November last year to March this year with reference to the situation in the summer of 1994.

Its findings were discussed at a recent meeting of the Commission on Youth.

The survey revealed that among the respondents, only 12.1 per cent had looked for summer jobs. On motivation for seeking summer jobs, 73.6 per cent gave financial reward while only 16.2 per cent cited acquiring work experience.

An HAB spokesman said today (Wednesday): "This reflects the attitude of our young people. Although most respondents cited earning money as the reason for taking up summer jobs, members of the Commission felt that one should not be unduly alarmed.

"In this connection, the study on the Moral Values of Youth being conducted by the Commission on Youth may help to shed light on young people's attitude towards material rewards."

Noting that almost 90 per cent of full-time students aged from 15 to 22, estimated to be 321,900, did not look for any summer work, the spokesman added: "This group of young people should be encouraged to make the most of their holidays and to engage in worthwhile pursuits.

"It is therefore timely to remind schools, voluntary agencies and other youth organisations that they have an important role to play in organising summer activities. for young people and to encourage them to take up voluntary work."

The survey also found that nearly half (45.2 per cent) of the students who found summer jobs worked in the wholesale, retail, import/export trades, restaurant and hotel businesses.

To protect the students, the Commission recommended that the Labour Department should step up the enforcement of the labour ordinances and strengthen inspection in the coming summer holidays to prevent illegal employment of underage students and to ensure that the working environment meets the statutory safety standards.