ENG-2003 — Page 185

EMPLOYMENT

Skills Upgrading Scheme

The Finance Committee approved in June 2001 the allocation of $400 million for the provision of focused skills training for workers with secondary, or below, education. By December 31, 2003, the number of industry sectors brought under the Skills Upgrading Scheme had increased from six in 2001 to 17. These were: Printing, Chinese Catering, Retail, Import and Export Trade, Transportation, Wearing Apparel and Textile, Hotel, Tourism, Hairdressing, Property Management, Insurance, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Real Estate Agents, Building Maintenance and Decoration, Beauty Care, Passenger Transport, and Elderly Care. By year-end, 55 703 trainees from 3 088 classes had completed training.

Youth Pre-employment Training Programme

The Youth Pre-employment Training Programme was first launched in 1999 to enhance the employability of school leavers aged 15 to 19 through a wide range of employment-related training, workplace attachment, careers counselling and support services. The fourth programme was concluded in June, with about 10 300 trainees taking part.

The fifth programme, for 2003-04, is being delivered in two phases. The first phase, which commenced in September, attracted some 6 500 participants.

Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme

To enhance the employability of young people, the Government allocated $400 million to launch the Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme in July 2002. Administered by the Labour Department, it aims at providing on-the-job training of six to 12 months' duration for young people aged 15 to 24, with an education attainment below degree level.

The Labour Department canvasses training vacancies from various industries in the private sector as well as the public sector. In addition, special employment projects tailor-made for different trades and occupations are launched to provide diversified training opportunities for trainees under the scheme.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been commissioned to offer induction training and case management service to trainees. Case managers, who are registered social workers from NGOs, assist trainees to formulate career plans, identify suitable training vacancies, prepare for selection interviews, review their job search strategy, and adapt to the work environment after they are placed into employment.

The target of the scheme is to provide 10 000 training places by July 2004. This target was achieved in November, eight months ahead of schedule. By year-end, 10 971 trainees were successfully placed in training vacancies under the scheme. In addition, 7 632 trainees were placed in other jobs in the open employment market with the advice and assistance of their case managers.

Feedback from trainees, employers and NGOs on the scheme is highly favourable. Independent consultants from the Centre for Social Policy Studies of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have also confirmed the effectiveness of the scheme in enhancing the employability of young people in a mid-term review conducted in 2003.

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