ENG-2006 — Page 167

Employment | 135

services. The seventh programme was concluded in October 2006, with over 7 100 trainees taking part. The eighth programme, for 2006-07, is being carried out in two phases. The first phase, which started in September, attracted over 4 000 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. It canvasses training vacancies both from the private and public sectors. 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 employed.

By year-end, 31 465 trainees had filled training vacancies under the scheme. In addition, 16 041 trainees got jobs on the open employment market with the help of their case managers.

To provide 'through-train' service and to maximise the benefits for trainees in the youth pre-employment and work experience schemes, a revolving-door mechanism has been introduced to allow the trainees to move between the two programmes at different stages of the programme year.

Employees Retraining Scheme

The ERB was set up under the Employees Retraining Ordinance in 1992 to help eligible workers adjust to changes in the economic environment. It is a statutory body comprising employer representatives, employee representatives and people in vocational training, retraining and manpower planning as well as government officials. In addition to regular income from a levy collected under the labour importation schemes, the ERB received a recurrent subvention from the Government. In 2006-07, the subvention amounted to some $360 million.

The ERB focuses on assisting unemployed workers, primarily those aged 30 or above with no more than lower secondary education, who have been displaced as a result of economic restructuring. It offers a wide variety of full-time and part-time courses delivered through a network of more than 50 approved training bodies. The major course categories cover job search skills courses, job-specific skills courses and general skills courses (computer and vocational languages). New courses such as healthcare massage courses are being developed, with a view to enhancing the employment opportunities of retrainees and their sustainability in the jobs.

In order to strengthen the Employees Retraining Scheme and to foster the spirit of lifelong learning, the ERB administers two Retraining Resource Centres, one in Cheung Sha Wan and the other at Lok Fu, to provide a wide range of self-learning