ENG-2005 — Page 175

Employment | 141

Skills Upgrading Scheme

In 2001, the Finance Committee approved the allocation of $400 million for focused skills training for workers with secondary, or below secondary education. By December 31, 2005, the number of industry sectors brought under the Skills Upgrading Scheme had increased from six in 2001 to 23. The sectors in the scheme at year-end were: printing; Chinese catering; retail; the import and export trade; transport; clothing and textiles; hotels; tourism; hairdressing; property management; insurance; electrical and mechanical engineering; real estate agents; building maintenance and decoration; beauty care; passenger transport; elderly care; film, TV and entertainment; sports and recreation; floral arts and horticulture; medical and health care; clocks, watches and jewellery and automobiles. By year-end, more than 139 000 in-service workers from around 6 700 classes had benefited from the training.

Youth Pre-employment Training Programme

The Youth Pre-employment Training Programme was launched in 1999 to enhance the employability of school leavers aged 15 to 19 through employment- related training, workplace attachment, careers counselling and support services. The sixth programme was concluded in October 2005, with over 9 200 trainees taking part.

The seventh programme, for 2005-06, is being delivered in two phases. The first phase, which started in September, attracted some 4 700 participants.

Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme

The Labour Department launched the Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme in July 2002 to provide six to 12 months of on-the-job training for people aged 15 to 24, with an education attainment below degree level. As well as pinpointing training vacancies in the public sector, it also canvasses the private sector industries for places. In addition, the scheme offers special employment projects tailor-made for different trades and occupations which provide a variety of training opportunities.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are commissioned to offer induction. training and case management services 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 original target of the scheme was to provide 20 000 training places by July 2006. This target was achieved in early April 2005, 16 months ahead of schedule. By year-end, 26 084 trainees were successfully placed in training vacancies under the scheme. In addition, 14 257 trainees were placed in other jobs on 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