ENG-2011 — Page 172

132 Employment

retrenchment cases, the department sets up a telephone hotline and special counters at job centres to provide priority job referral services to the retrenched workers.

In 2011, a total of 106 160 job seekers registered with the Labour Department. The department also recorded 900 564 private sector vacancies during the year, an all-time high figure and an increase of 19.7 per cent when compared with 2010. A job placement figure of 177 047 was achieved in 2011, or 18.3 per cent higher than in 2010.

Employment Programme for the Middle-aged

Under the programme, employers who engage eligible middle-aged people and provide them with on-the-job training are given a training allowance of $2,000 per month per trainee for three to a maximum of six months by the Government. In 2011, a total of 2 834 middle-aged job seekers were employed under the programme.

Work Trial Scheme

In 2011, a total of 439 job seekers with exceptional difficulties in finding jobs took part in a 'Work Trial Scheme' run by the Labour Department. On completion of the one-month trial, each participant receives $6,000 from the Labour Department, of which $500 is from the organisation for which he or she worked.

Pilot Employment Navigator Programme

In 2011, 4079 job seekers joined the Pilot Employment Navigator Programme, which was launched in December 2010 to motivate and assist unemployed job seekers to secure and remain in employment. Participants who secure employment that meets the requirements of the programme after receiving the employment consultation services provided by the department are given a cash incentive amounting to $5,000 if they stay in the job for at least three months.

Employment in One-stop

In December 2011, a pioneer one-stop employment and training centre called 'Employment in One-stop' was set up in Tin Shui Wai to provide employment and training to needy job seekers, including unemployed able-bodied recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance, a scheme to help people who cannot help themselves financially.

The centre provides new and enhanced services and facilities, such as case management and employment support services, that are currently not available at other Labour Department job centres.

Transport Support Scheme

A transport support scheme provides time-limited transport subsidy ($600 a month, up to 12 months) to needy job seekers and low income employees living in the four designated remote districts of Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, North and Islands to encourage them to work or seek jobs.

This scheme was replaced by a 'Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme' in October 2011.