Youth Programmes Enhance Employability of Young People

The Government spares no effort to promote the employment of young people. Spearheaded by the Labour Department, the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme and the Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme provide a full range of pre-employment and on-the-job training to young people aged 15 to 24, with a view to enhancing their employability, facilitating a smooth transition to employment and providing sustainable employment opportunities.

Youth Pre-employment Training Programme (YPTP)

YPTP helps enhance the work-preparedness of youngsters aged 15-19 through a wide range of employment-related training, workplace attachments, career counselling and support services.

Trainees receive personalised career guidance and support from case managers who are registered social workers. On completion of Module B "Job Search and Interpersonal Skills Training", case managers assist trainees to formulate career and training plans, including the best option to attend the ensuing Module A "Leadership, Discipline and Team Building Training", Module C "Computer Application Training", and Module D "Job-specific Skills Training". Over half of the Module D training courses prepare trainees to sit for professional examinations with full reimbursement of examination fees from YPTP.

YPTP trainees participate in Module B "Job Search and Interpersonal Skills Training"
YPTP trainees participate in Module B "Job Search and Interpersonal Skills Training"

Following modular training, trainees are given the opportunity of undergoing a one-month workplace attachment training to further enhance their work exposure and understanding of the world of work. Attachment places are offered by a wide cross-section of organisations including government departments, private and public organisations, as well as non-government organisations. Participating organisations appoint experienced staff as mentors to support trainees throughout their attachment period. Trainees on satisfactory completion of the attachment receive an allowance of HK$2,000 from YPTP.

Over 85 000 young people have been trained under YPTP since its inception in 1999. Apart from those pursuing further studies, 70% of trainees successfully found jobs after joining YPTP.


Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme (YWETS)

In full coordination with YPTP, YWETS provides 6-12 months' on-the-job training to young people aged 15-24 with educational attainment below the degree level, with a view to enhancing their employability.

YWETS offers a host of training and support services to trainees with a view to improving the sustainability of employment. They include:

Induction Course - a 40-hour training on job-search, interview, communication and interpersonal skills by qualified trainers.

Case Management Service - "case managers", who are registered social workers, provide trainees with personalised career counselling and support services to overcome any personal or social impediments to employment.

On-the-job Training - trainees are arranged to take up on-the-job training of 6-12 months in their capacity as employees with the opportunity of obtaining continuing employment on completion of the training period.

Off-the-job Vocational Training - to encourage further learning, trainees receiving on-the-job training are encouraged to enroll in relevant off-the-job training courses with reimbursement of course and examination fees up to HK$4,000 by YWETS.

Employers are entitled to a HK$2,000 monthly training allowance per trainee employed during the training period. Launched in 2002, YWETS has helped 56 000 trainees to secure employment.

Highlights

Joint application for YPTP and YWETS Phase I, 2008/09 is now open. Admission is free and young people aged 15-24 are welcome to join. Application forms can be obtained from the YPTP and YWETS offices, Job Centres, Youth Employment Start and relevant training bodies. Application via the Internet can be made at the Youth Employment Service website: www.yes.labour.gov.hk.

In the 2008/09 programme year, YPTP offers about 180 courses in 18 categories of job-specific skills training, including such popular fields as hotel, tourism, catering, beauty culture, hairstyling, clerical and IT training.
New courses include training in mobile phone game design, e-marketing and salesmanship, remote control helicopter maintenance and coaching, fashion and accessary design, and marketing theories and practices.

Tailor-made training projects are organised to address employers' recruitment needs and trainees' interests in a timely and fit-for-purpose manner. Trainees engaged under such projects attend organisation-specific pre-employment training courses designed in consultation with the participating employers under YPTP before they receive on-the-job training with the same employers under YWETS.

Farewell and Welcome Ceremony of the 'Airport Ambassadors Programme'
Farewell and Welcome Ceremony of the 'Airport Ambassadors Programme'

YWETS also launches industry-based employment projects including the "IT Seeds Project" to train IT technicians for schools, the "Airport Ambassadors Programme" to train customer service officers of the Hong Kong International Airport, the "Tradesman Trainees Project" to train skilled workers for industrial establishments and the "Action S4 Project" to train programme assistants for social service organisations, with a view to enhancing the job skills and employment opportunities of trainees.

With the benefit of a 'revolving door' mechanism, trainees receive 'through-train' pre-employment and on-the-job training support under YPTP and YWETS throughout a programme year.

For enquiries, please call the Youth Employment Service Hotline: 2112 9932
Website: http://www.yes.labour.gov.hk
E-mail: enquiry@yes.labour.gov.hk.