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The Labour Department will launch the two-year Pilot Employment Navigator Programme (the Programme) tomorrow (December 13) to further strengthen employment support for unemployed job seekers. It is expected that 22,000 unemployed job seekers will benefit during the two-year pilot period.
A Labour Department spokesman said that the Programme aims to help participants secure and sustain employment. Assistance for unemployed job seekers includes the provision of a personalised employment consultation service and cash incentives for those who secure a job that fulfils the requirements of the Programme.
The spokesman added that Employment Officers would gauge the employment needs of participants, assist participants in developing their job search plans, follow up with them on how they implement the job search plan and review with them their experience in the job seeking process to improve their job search and interview techniques so as to enhance the chances of successful employment. Where appropriate, Employment Officers would refer participants to suitable retraining courses or work trials.
Participants who secure a full-time permanent job with a monthly salary of not more than HK$6,500 from the vacancies listed with the Employment Services Division or Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department after receiving the employment services for one month under the Programme, and who fulfil other requirements of the Programme, may apply for a cash incentive of up to HK$5,000 at three stages:
First Stage : HK$500 after completion of the first
working day of employment
Second Stage: HK$1,500 after completing the first
month of employment
Third Stage: HK$3,000 after completing three months
of employment
Unemployed job-seekers interested in enrolling in the Programme may approach the Labour Department's Job Centres, call the Programme hotline 2594 7814, or visit the Labour Department's Interactive Employment Service website at www.jobs.gov.hk for more details about the Programme. Unemployed job-seekers with disabilities may also approach branch offices of the Selective Placement Division for details about the Programme.
Ends/Sunday, December 12, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:01
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