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Following is a question by the Hon Ip Kwok-him and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (October 23):
Question:
According to a thematic study contained in the Half-yearly Economic Report 2007 published by the Government, new arrivals from the Mainland settling in Hong Kong (new immigrants) comprised mostly housewives and students, and their labour force participation (LFP) rate was consistently far lower than the total labour force. For example, in 2006, the LFP rate of such new immigrants was 45.7%, distinctly lower than the 60.7% of non-Mainland arrivals and the 60.3% of the total labour force. It has been reported that some community groups have recently made an appointment to meet with officials of the Labour Department, and they pointed out at the meeting that the employment support for new immigrants was inadequate and urged for improvement. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it had, in the past six years, compiled statistics and analysed the employment situation of new immigrants; if so, of the data and findings of such analyses; if not, whether it has any plan to conduct such analyses;
(b) whether the authorities have conducted any analysis to identify the factors contributing to the low LFP rate of new immigrants, other than the factor that they are mostly housewives and students; and
(c) of the measures put in place by the authorities to provide employment support to new immigrants at present and whether they have conducted any review to evaluate the effectiveness of those measures?
Reply:
President,
My reply to the question raised by the Hon IP Kwok-him is as follows:
(a) The figures on the labour force participation rate (LFPR) of new arrivals from the Mainland having resided in Hong Kong for less than seven years (hereafter referred to as new arrivals) as provided in the Half-yearly Economic Report 2007 were based on the data collected by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) in the 2006 Population By-census. Those data were also collected by C&SD in the 2011 Population Census. In 2011, the LFPR of new arrivals was 47.8%.
The LFPR figures of new arrivals, persons from places other than the Mainland and having resided in Hong Kong for less than seven years (hereafter referred to as non-Mainland new arrivals) and the Hong Kong whole population as collected in the 2006 Population By-Census and 2011 Population Census are tabulated in Annex for reference.
(b) The LFPR of new arrivals was lower than that for the whole population. It was mainly because the number of economically inactive persons took up a larger portion of the new arrivals. In 2011, there were altogether 137 141 new arrivals aged 15 and over in Hong Kong. Of these, 71 596 (i.e. 52.2%) were economically inactive, out of whom 35 906 (i.e. 50.2%) were home-makers; 20 751 (i.e. 29%) were students; 11 256 (i.e. 15.7%) were persons of independent means (who do not have to work for a living as their living expenses were generally met by rental income, savings, investment returns or remittances), unpaid religious workers, and persons who cannot work or do not seek work because of prolonged sickness or permanent disablement etc. and the remaining 3 683 (i.e. 5.1%) were retired persons.
(c) To facilitate new arrivals to enter the local employment market, the Government has been actively helping them improve their vocational skills. New arrivals can enrol in five dedicated courses offered by the Employees Retraining Board (ERB). The objectives of the courses are to assist new arrivals in building up self-confidence and to provide them with fundamental job skills training to meet the basic requirements of the employment market, thereby helping them to secure employment and integrate into society. New arrivals who meet the eligibility criteria of the ERB courses for the general public may also enrol in such courses in accordance with their own aspirations, interests and training needs.
On the other hand, the Labour Department (LD) is committed to helping new arrivals find work. LD provides a comprehensive range of free employment services for job-seekers through a network of 12 job centres, two industry-based recruitment centres, the Telephone Employment Service Hotline, the Interactive Employment Service website and numerous vacancy search terminals installed at various locations throughout the territory. Vacancy information is made available to new arrivals in simplified Chinese to facilitate reading. LD has specifically set up resource corners and special counters at all its job centres to provide job referral services to new arrivals. Furthermore, tailor-made employment briefings are organised regularly to help them better understand the local employment market situation and improve job search skills. Large-scale and district-based job fairs are organised to enhance the flow of vacancy information and provide on-the-spot job interview opportunities so as to help them secure employment early.
LD regularly reviews its employment support rendered to job-seekers, including new arrivals, to ensure that the services provided can suitably cater for job-seekers' needs. Since early 2013, LD has made available at all its job centres employment advisory service to provide personalised employment support to job-seekers. New arrivals can meet the Employment Officers who will provide them with information on the employment market situation and training/retraining courses, conduct career aptitude assessment, and/or provide job search advice in accordance with their individual needs. Employment Officers will also assist job-seekers to participate in LD's various employment programmes to enhance their employability. LD has also strengthened its collaboration with non-governmental organisations providing services to new arrivals. With their support, LD's employment services are effectively promoted to the new arrivals and those with employment needs can be referred to LD for employment support.
Ends/Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:30
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