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The Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said a study by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HKPU) had fully affirmed the effectiveness of the Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme (YWETS).
The consultancy report recommended that the Government should continue implementing the scheme.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of a bus parade to publicise the scheme organised by the Labour Department today (February 5), Mr Cheung said the department would thoroughly study the findings of the study and seriously consider the recommendations.
The Labour Department earlier commissioned the Centre for Social Policy Studies of HKPU to undertake a comprehensive review of YWETS to evaluate its performance and effectiveness in the first two years of its implementation. HKPU also conducted an 18-month longitudinal study on more than 800 trainees to trace the changes in their employability and the long-term effects of the scheme on them.
The report noted that YWETS had adopted a set of "active labour market policies" and was in line with the standards promulgated by the International Labour Organisation. The trainees had made significant improvement in various aspects, such as preparation for work and employability, after joining the scheme for a year.
The report pointed out that the job-training and career counselling service provided by registered social workers under the scheme had improved the job-seeking skills and attitudes of trainees. More than 60% of trainees who had completed on-the-job training were offered continued employment by their employers. This clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the training opportunities in enhancing the employability of trainees.
The study also found that YWETS could increase trainees' motivation in continuing to study and enhance their psychological qualities and self-esteem. As their social network was widened, they could obtain more diversified information on the job market. This facilitated them to seek jobs with better pay.
Mr Cheung quoted the report as saying that YWETS could help youths with relatively lower educational attainment and less work experience to better equip themselves and subsequently enhance their employability.
"We should not disregard the fact that our youths have little work knowledge and experience and are still facing difficulties in the process of securing employment.
"In this regard, the Labour Department launched the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme (YPTP) and Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme to enable youths to learn job-seeking skills and receive vocational training. In addition, the schemes can enhance their self-recognition, develop a positive attitude towards life and a good start for their career," he said.
"Opportunities are always open to those who are well-prepared. Young people should continue upgrading themselves," Mr Cheung stressed.
He urged employers and social service organisations to provide more job-training opportunities for youths as the economy was reviving.
The YPTP has trained more than 66,000 young people since its introduction in 1999; while the YWETS has placed more than 26,000 participants into jobs and some 14,500 participants have secured job placement in the open market under the assistance of their case managers since it was launched in 2002.
To tie in with the application of the second phase of joint recruitment of YPTP and YWETS, a bus parade will be staged in these few days to promote the two schemes and accept on-the-spot applications for enrolment.
Application forms can be obtained from the office of YPTP, job centres of the Labour Department and designated training bodies or downloaded from the website at http://www.yes.labour.gov.hk. Online application is available to applicants aged 18 or above. For enquiries, please call 2835 2282.
Ends/Sunday, February 5, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:30
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