**************************************************
The Youth Pre-employment Training Programme (YPTP) and the Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme (YWETS) of the Labour Department are accepting joint applications from July 26 to August 18.
The joint enrolment will help streamline application procedures and avoid duplicate applications. Applicants will be streamed into the YPTP or the YWETS according to their age and previous training received under the YPTP.
The young applicants will also receive employment guidance and training to help them formulate their career plans.
Launched in 1999 and 2002 respectively, the YPTP and YWETS aim to develop young people's job skills, working experience and credentials, thereby enhancing their employability and competitiveness.
The YPTP is a pre-employment training programme for teens aged between 15 and 19, with training on leadership, discipline and team building; job search and interpersonal skills; computer application and job-specific skills. This training is complemented by career counselling and support services throughout the programme and after job placement. Such services will facilitate trainees' integration into the job market and enhance their employment opportunities.
Upon completion of the training, trainees may undergo one month's workplace attachment provided by Government departments, social service institutions, and public and private organisations. Experienced staff will act as mentors to support trainees and there is no employment relationship between the organisations and trainees. An allowance of $1,000 will be payable to trainees upon completion of the workplace attachment.
New training courses will be introduced this year. These include the training for banquet service assistants in hotels, fork-lift truck operators, building service personnel, airport and shopping mall security guards. There will also be training on Japanese cuisine, traditional Chinese snacks and desserts, environmental hygiene and pest-control and the performing arts (drama production, stage acting, disc jockey and radio broadcast training).
More than 45,000 young people have received training under the YPTP since 1999. In 2002-03, over 1,000 employers provided more than 11,000 attachment places for trainees, and nearly 70 per cent of those were provided by the private sector. Most of the attachment places were from tourism and related trades. Others were mainly from the business services and social services sectors.
The YWETS aims to provide two-year, on-the-job training for about 10,000 young people aged between 15 and 24 with education below degree level and with a view to enhancing their employability. Finding more diversified and appropriate training places for young people is an important direction of the YWETS.
In the past year, the scheme tied up with different organisations to create various tailor-made training projects and vacancies. Examples are the "IT Seeds" project, the "Travel Pioneers" project, the "Airport Ambassadors" project, the "Sports Instructor Trainees" project and the "Action S4" project.
At July 18, over 6,300 trainees were successfully placed in training vacancies under the Scheme. They were mainly engaged in clerical, sales, and information technology posts. In addition, over 5,200 trainees were placed in other jobs in the open employment market with the advice and assistance of their case managers.
In this year's scheme, more tailor-made projects will be organised to enhance the employment opportunities of trainees. These include the "Youth Work Experience and Skills Enhancement Programme for the Manufacturing Industry" in collaboration with the Professional Validation Council of Hong Kong; the new "IT Seeds" project and the "School Activities and Administrative Assistants" project to be organised jointly with Pui Ching Education Centre and various primary and secondary school councils.
Application forms can be obtained from the department's Careers Information Centres and Job Centres; Public Enquiry Service Centres of the Home Affairs Department; District Offices of the Social Welfare Department; other designated training bodies; or downloaded from the website: http://www.yptp.com.hk/joint_app/index.htm.
Online registrations will be accepted from applicants aged 18 or above. For enquiries, please call 2835 2288.
The department will stage an exhibition to promote the YPTP and YWETS and accept on-the-spot applications on August 2 from 2.30 pm to 7 pm and August 3 from 11 am to 7 pm at the Stars Atrium, 1/F, Plaza Hollywood, Diamond Hill.
End/Thursday, July 24, 2003
NNNN
