Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Ratification: 1997)

The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government in its report covering the period ending May 2011 and the Government replies to the 2010 direct request.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Active labour market measures. The Committee notes that pursuant to the Chief Executive’s 2008–09 policy address, the Task Force on Economic Challenges was established and had its last meeting in June 2009 to monitor and assess the impact of the financial crisis on local and global markets. In reply to the previous direct request, the Government also indicates that the Social Welfare Department (SWD) commissions NGOs to continue helping comprehensive social security assistance (CSSA) single parents and childcarers under the phase of the New Dawn Project. The Committee also notes that the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) offers employment support services to people in need, including, but not limited to, the elderly and single parents. It established enterprises to provide more job opportunities for the disadvantaged. In addition, the Government indicates that it has incorporated the recommendations for the development of six industries where the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, has advantages. The relevant measures are being gradually implemented. The Government further indicates that it seeks to promote economic growth through infrastructural development, in which ten significant infrastructure projects are being gradually implemented. The general trend suggests that there has been a sustained increase in employment and a decrease in unemployment between 2009 and the first quarter of 2011. The number of employed persons rose from 3,480,700 in 2009 to 3,577,300 in 2011. The unemployment rate fell from 5.1 per cent in 2009 to 3.4 per cent in 2011. The Committee notes that the Government introduced measures to mitigate the impact of the financial crisis in terms of benefitting many enterprises and preserving jobs particularly in the small and medium-sized enterprises. The Immigration Department and the Labour Department (LD) introduced measures to tackle illegal employment in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. The Committee invites the Government to provide an evaluation of the infrastructure projects and other measures implemented to generate employment, and views of the social partners involved in implementing an active employment policy. It would also welcome information on the situation, level and trends in employment and unemployment disaggregated by sector, age and gender.

Strengthening employment services. The Committee notes that the LD received 1,456,122 job vacancies and 290,934 placements during the reporting period, representing an increase from 2007–09. The Government indicates that employment information is disseminated through job fairs, where jobseekers and recruiters can meet. In June 2010, the LD established a dedicated recruitment centre for the retail industry. During the reporting period, the LD continued to operate the Employment Programme for the Middle-Aged (EPM) and the Work Trial Scheme (WTS) to help targeted jobseekers settle into employment. The LD enhanced the EPM in June 2009 by increasing training allowance payable to participating employers and by extending the subsidy period for deserving cases. Since the inception of the EPM in May 2003 and of the WTS in June 2005 up until 31 May 2011, the EPM placed 51,593 people into employment while 3,518 jobseekers with special difficulties found employment in work trials under the WTS. For jobseekers to obtain job vacancy information, the LD installed vacancy search terminals linked to the LD’s vacancy database in the NGOs that provide placement services to the public in remote districts in the third quarter of 2010. The Committee notes that in December 2010, the LD launched the two-year Pilot Employment Navigator Programme to encourage the unemployed to settle and sustain employment by providing a cash incentive (5,000 Hong Kong dollars (HKD)) to those who find employment successfully and remain in employment after receiving consultation services. The Committee also notes that as at 31 May 2011, 2,469 jobseekers enrolled in this programme. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the activities of the public employment services and on the enrolment of jobseekers and their success in finding employment. The Committee also invites the Government to include an evaluation of the abovementioned programmes and schemes in its report.

Youth employment. The Committee notes that measures are being taken to respond to the needs of young workers who have difficulties in finding lasting employment. The Government indicates that the SWD is continuing to implement the Support for Self-reliance Scheme and the Integrated Employment Assistance Scheme. Other measures include the two-year extension of the Special Training and Enhancement Programme (STEP) from 1 October 2009, the integration and enhancement of the Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme (YWETS) and the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme (YPTP) by the LD, the special programme for young people with acute employment difficulties, the One-Stop Youth Employment Resource Centres and temporary jobs for young people. The Committee invites the Government to provide an evaluation of the results obtained from these employment programmes and services to assist youth in gaining sustainable employment.

Vulnerable categories of workers. The Committee notes the measures adopted by the Selective Placement Division (SPD) of the LD to enhance opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that the LD enhanced the Work Orientation and Placement Scheme since June 2009 by increasing the financial incentive provided to employers, the ceiling, the maximum payment period and the amount of pre-employment training allowance paid to jobseekers with disabilities. The Government also indicates that the SWD provides a full range of employment programmes and services for persons with disabilities, including the vocational rehabilitation services. The Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) assists the vocational rehabilitation services units to develop their marketing and business strategies to further enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. As of May 2011, under the Sheltered Workshops and Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Services, 35 sheltered workshops were carried out providing 5,133 places and the 25 integration vocational rehabilitation service centres provided 4,023 training places. The Committee notes that the Employment Retraining Board (ERB) offered 47 training courses for persons with disabilities. The Committee also notes that placement-tied and non-placement-tied courses are offered to ethnic minorities in order to assist them in finding employment through appropriate training and employment services. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on measures taken to encourage persons with disabilities and those who belong to ethnic minorities into sustainable employment.

Vocational training and education policies. The Committee notes that the Vocational Training Council (VTC) provides vocational training and education to school leavers and working adults to acquire values, knowledge and skills for lifelong learning and enhanced employability. It also provides a range of pre employment and in-service programmes with internationally recognised qualifications. In September 2010, it launched a new programme, the Enhanced Construction Manpower Training Scheme, where additional 3,000 training places of full-time short courses were provided for three years for selected trades at an increased training subsidy to train more skilled workers to meet the manpower demand after the start of the infrastructure projects. The Committee also notes that the Clothing Industry Training Authority offers part-time and full-time courses on the clothing industry and fashion design. Since April 2011, it has been assisting the ERB to deliver retraining programmes in clothing manufacturing, apparel retailing and fashion disciplines. The Government indicates that the ERB adopts a proactive approach in developing new courses and services in response to the changes in the labour market while consulting the stakeholders and other social partners. In particular, the ERB is working towards modernizing and professionalizing some trading occupations, such as domestic helpers and post-natal care helpers. It also set up 20 Industry Consultative Networks with members comprising representatives of employers, workers, and professional associations of different industries. The Government further indicates that courses on self employed skills were enhanced in April 2010 as the Certificate of Entrepreneurship and the Module Certificate in Internet Business Start-up (Operation and Marketing). In April 2011, a new part-time course for self employed training was introduced, which is known as the Module Certificate in Small Business Start-up. The Committee invites the Government to provide an evaluation of the impact of the measures taken on training and education to improve employability. It would also welcome information on how the local authorities and social partners participate in the design and implementation of training policies and programmes.