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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (September 6) encouraged young people to make good use of the one-stop pre-employment and on-the-job training under the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) of the Labour Department (LD) to find their career paths and pursue their dreams.
Speaking at the Award Ceremony of Most Improved Trainees of YETP 2015, Mr Cheung said that the Government attaches great importance to vocational training and manpower development. Mr Cheung said that over the years, the LD has been providing tailor-made and comprehensive training and employment support services under the YETP for young school leavers aged 15 to 24 with educational attainment at sub-degree level or below. He said he was glad to note that over 210 000 young people have benefited from the programme since its inception 16 years ago, with the successful placement rate reaching 70 per cent.
"I fully concur with the registered name of the YETP's Facebook fan page 'You are gifted'. I am always concerned about how we can best assist young people with different talents to enter the labour market," Mr Cheung said.
Mr Cheung noted that to keep pace with the changing needs of the labour market, the LD has worked closely with employers and service providers to organise various pilot employment projects. These include the e-Learning Support Scheme targeted at sub-degree or higher diploma holders. The training-cum-work mode has also been introduced to the cultural and publishing industry as well as the hotel and hospitality sector. Pilot projects of Reading Culture and the Hotel Operation Trainee Training Project have been launched. In addition, under the Employment Services Ambassador Programme for Ethnic Minorities, several dozen young people from ethnic minorities were trained up to promote employment services especially for ethnic minority job seekers in the LD's 13 job centres and two industry-based recruitment centres.
Mr Cheung said he was glad to know that three of the Most Improved Trainees were from the construction and maintenance industry and the aviation industry. He noted that the fact that they had set their sights on these potential growth industries reflects a change in mindset of young people and their parents. He also called on employers and service providers to continue with their support for the YETP and collaborate with the Government in improving young people's prospects and providing more vacancies.
The Award Ceremony of Most Improved Trainees of YETP and its accompanying concert were held during the Solar Project 2015 - Dream Journey with YETP programme and were co-organised by the LD and Radio 2 of Radio Television Hong Kong. Awards were presented to 10 outstanding trainees who achieved significant improvements in personal development, leadership or work performance during the training period. The aim was to encourage more young people to join the YETP to equip themselves in pursuing their career goals.
The YETP is open to young school leavers aged 15 to 24 with education attainment at sub-degree level or below and is free of charge. Trainees undergoing pre-employment training and who have successfully completed the workplace attachment training are eligible for a training allowance. Employers providing on-the-job training opportunities are entitled to a maximum training allowance of $3,000 per trainee per month as well. Enrolment is on a year-round basis. For details, please visit the website of the Youth Employment Services of the LD at www.yes.labour.gov.hk. The LD has also set up a Youth Employment Services hotline 2112 9932 to provide a one-stop enquiry service on the programme and receive training vacancies from employers.
Ends/Sunday, September 6, 2015
Issued at HKT 16:11
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