ENG-2009 — Page 173

Chapter 6

Employment

Hong Kong's workforce is intelligent, adaptable and hardworking — qualities the Government treasures and nurtures by promoting employment, safeguarding workers' rights and benefits, ensuring workplaces are safe and healthy, and by fostering a harmonious relationship between employers and employees.

Hong Kong's hard working, adaptable workforce is one of its most treasured assets. The Government spares no effort in ensuring that Hong Kong workers stay motivated and skilful to contribute to the city's economic competitiveness. There are, however, challenges to be met. Notwithstanding the steady recovery of the economy and improvement in the unemployment situation, the buoyancy of the labour market hinges on the overall business performance and, in particular, the capacity and pace of job creation in the corporate sector. The Government adopts a multi-pronged strategy to meet these challenges. This includes upgrading workers' skills to make them more employable and competitive, improving the business environment, introducing measures to create jobs and enhancing labour market efficiency.

During the year, the Employees Retraining Board offered over 120 000 training places to help in-service workers to upgrade their skills, and those seeking job change and the unemployed to re-enter the labour market. The Government also continued to offer special help to the less competitive workers.

The Labour Department has introduced a series of market-oriented employment initiatives for job seekers. These include the Employment Programme for the Middle-aged, the Work Trial Scheme, the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme and the Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme, the Youth Employment Start, and the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme for job-seekers with disabilities. In addition, job fairs are held and job-matching services are provided to help job seekers to enter or re-enter the job market.

The Government promotes harmonious employer-employee relations, protects the rights and improves the benefits of employees in line with Hong Kong's

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