ENG-1999 — Page 170

EMPLOYMENT

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jobs; setting up the second employment and guidance centre for new arrivals; organising group counselling and workshops for JMP registrants on top of one-to- one job matching service; publishing a leaflet on job-hunting skills; setting up at all LES offices a display corner of 'Immediate Vacancies' to highlight vacancies required to be filled immediately; and displaying information on the top 10 categories of vacancies at the LES to enhance the delivery of the latest labour market information to job-seekers.

To further strengthen its employment service, the department launched an Interactive Employment Service on its Employment Service web site to provide for job hunting and staff recruitment on the Internet around the clock. The web site provides job-seekers with personalised job matching service and access to the updated vacancy information kept by the LES. The web service also assists employers. to shortlist suitable candidates through the Internet. (Web site address: http://www.employment.labour.gov.hk)

During the year, 188 784 job-seekers registered with the ESD and 143 522 vacancies were filed by employers. The division made 603 762 job referrals and placed 47 111 job-seekers in employment.

Helping the Disabled Find Jobs

The Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department helps people with disabilities integrate into the community through open employment. It provides a free employment counselling and placement service for the hearing impaired, sight impaired, physically handicapped, chronically ill, ex-mentally ill and mentally handicapped. In 1999, 1 511 placements for the disabled were made. This was about the same level as in 1998.

During the year, the division launched a series of activities to promote the employment of people with disabilities. These included staging exhibitions and seminars, presentation of awards to commendable employers and outstanding disabled employees, and organising an Information Expo on Employment and Retraining for People with Disabilities. Special campaigns and promotional visits to targeted trades and government departments were made to canvass vacancies and widen the employment opportunities of job-seekers with disabilities.

Feature articles highlighting the working abilities of people with disabilities were published in newspapers and newsletters of various employers' associations to enhance employers' acceptance of people with disabilities. Pamphlets and guidebooks concerning employment of people with various disability types were also published and disseminated to members of the public. With the assistance of Radio Television Hong Kong, a series of radio programmes was produced to promote the working abilities of people with disabilities and their integration into the community.

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. It also provides careers teachers with back-up information.

The service operates two careers information centres disseminating careers information through written and audio-visual materials. The public can also access