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To strengthen dedicated employment services for ethnic minorities, the Labour Department (LD) has launched a pilot project named Employment Services Ambassador Programme for Ethnic Minorities under the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP).
Officiating at an encouragement session for the participating trainees today (August 20), the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said, "Members of ethnic minorities constitute an important source of manpower in Hong Kong and it is the Government's policy to facilitate the ethnic minorities' integration into society."
Noting that the LD has strived to help ethnic minority job seekers find work through a wide range of employment services through different channels, Mr Cheung said the launch of this new initiative was another step forward.
The project aims to enhance the employability of young people from ethnic minorities. The LD will employ 14 Employment Services Ambassadors for Ethnic Minorities for six months starting from this September.
"I see great value in this project. First, it offers on-the-job training opportunities for the trainees to work in the Labour Department's Job Centres and recruitment functions. I am sure the work experience would help the trainees land other meaningful jobs and map out career plans thereafter. Second, through the Employment Service Ambassadors' valuable assistance, we should also be able to reach out to the ethnic minority communities and serve the ethnic minority job seekers better," Mr Cheung said.
He also expressed appreciation to Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, a long-term partner of the YETP, for providing quality pre-employment training and customised employment support for the trainees.
At the encouragement session, two trainees with outstanding performance in pre-employment training received certificates of commendation from Mr Cheung and another officiating guest, the Chief Executive Officer of Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, Mr Johnny Tsang.
Ends/Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:10
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