Budget Speech

Support for Employment

181.    To encourage employers to hire job seekers with special employment needs, I will make an additional annual funding of $48 million to enhance the special employment programmes of the Labour Department.  These initiatives include:

(a) providing an on-the-job training allowance of up to $4,000 per month for a period of six to 12 months for employers engaging people aged 60 or above who have left the workforce or are unemployed;
(b) raising the monthly on-the-job training allowance ceiling under the Youth Employment and Training Programme by $1,000 to  $4,000 per month for a period of six to 12 months; and
(c) extending the work adaptation period under the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme from two months to three months and increasing the maximum amount of allowance payable to employers engaging people with disabilities by $16,000 to $51,000.

Government Outsourcing System

182.    The employment rights of non-skilled workers employed by government service contractors is a matter of great concern to the Government.  The inter-bureaux/departmental working group set up by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare is exploring options to improve the government outsourcing system with a view to enhancing the protection of the reasonable employment terms and conditions as well as labour benefits of these non-skilled employees.  It is expected that the working group will complete the review within this year.  I will provide the necessary financial support having regard to the outcome of the review.

 

 

Previous Page | Content | Next Page