The Labour Department (LD) launched measures to enhance the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) today (December 12) with the aim of improving the employability of young people and assisting their entry into the labour market.
The enhancement measures include doubling the trainee quota and increasing the subsidy payable to participating non-governmental organisations (NGOs) under the Career Kick-start employment project of the YETP, raising the amount of workplace attachment training allowance payable to trainees under the YETP, proactively canvassing paid on-the-job training vacancies and collaborating with employers in organising thematic job fairs to help young people with little or no work experience in searching for suitable jobs.
Career Kick-start offers 12-month paid on-the-job training to young people with special employment difficulties, including those with low educational attainment, emotional or behavioural problems, learning difficulties and prolonged unemployment, through placements in NGOs with a view to enhancing their employability.
A new phase of Career Kick-start will be open for participating NGOs to nominate from tomorrow (December 13) to February 3, 2020, suitable young people to join the project. Under this new phase, the amount of monthly subsidy payable to the relevant organisations will be increased from $8,300 to $9,000 per trainee to encourage NGOs in making nominations. Moreover, the current trainee quota of 100 will be doubled to 200 for the new phase to benefit more young people.
A spokesman for the LD said, "The LD has been collaborating with different private enterprises, public organisations, government departments and social services organisations in providing workplace attachment training opportunities for young people under the YETP."
The training allowance for trainees who participate in one-month workplace attachment training on or after January 1, 2020, with an attendance rate of 80 per cent or above will be raised from the existing amount of $4,500 to $5,800. The enhancement aims to further encourage young people to undergo workplace attachment training in order to acquire practical work experience, explore their potential and gain employment opportunities.
The spokesman added, "We will also proactively canvass suitable and attractive paid on-the-job training vacancies and collaborate with employers in organising thematic job fairs so as to provide young people with diversified employment opportunities and assist employers in recruiting talent."
The YETP provides a comprehensive job search platform with one-stop and diversified pre-employment and on-the-job training for young school leavers aged 15 to 24 with educational attainment at sub-degree level or below. The programme enables young people to better understand themselves and their work aptitudes while enriching their job skills and experience for better employability.
Enrolment for the YETP is free of charge on a year-round basis, without minimum academic qualification requirements. The services provided by the YETP include pre-employment training, one-month workplace attachment training, on-the-job salaried training for six to 12 months and an off-the-job vocational training allowance, as well as 12-month case management services provided by registered social workers. Trainees will be provided with personalised career guidance, job search assistance and employment support. All eligible young people are welcome to apply.
For details, please visit the YETP's website at www.yes.labour.gov.hk. The LD has also set up a Youth Employment Services hotline at 2112 9932 to provide a one-stop enquiry service on the programme and receive training vacancies from employers.
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