Labour Department strengthens employment services and support for young people
The Labour Department (LD) announced today (January 2) the launch of the 2025 Greater Bay Area (GBA) Youth Employment Scheme, as well as enhancements to the GBA Youth Employment Scheme and the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) starting from today to strengthen employment services and support for young people.
The Chief Executive in the 2024 Policy Address announced measures to strengthen employment services and support for young people, including, starting from this year, relaxing the eligibility requirements for GBA Youth Employment Scheme to allow young people aged 29 or below with sub-degree or higher qualifications to join the Scheme, while increasing the limit of the monthly allowance granted to enterprises to $12,000 for a period of up to 18 months. Moreover, the upper age limit for participants of the YETP is raised to 29 and workplace attachment opportunities in the GBA under the YETP will be introduced to assist young people to enhance employability and promote sustainable development.
In addition, the Government will launch the Arrangements for Mainland Youth to Work in Hong Kong under the GBA Youth Employment Scheme. Starting from this year, enterprises which have participated in the Scheme and employed Hong Kong young people to work in GBA Mainland cities may apply for the same number of Mainland young people to work in Hong Kong according to relevant requirements under the Arrangements.
The GBA Youth Employment Scheme encourages enterprises with businesses in both Hong Kong and Mainland cities of the GBA to hire Hong Kong young people to work in GBA Mainland cities to foster their career development and talent exchanges within the GBA. For details of the GBA Youth Employment Scheme, please visit thescheme website at www.jobs.gov.hk/gbayes or call the hotline at 2969 0446/2969 0460.
The YETP provides employment support services including pre-employment training, workplace attachment training, on-the-job salaried training, etc for young people with an educational attainment at the sub-degree level or below. For details of the YETP, please visit the programme website at www.yes.labour.gov.hk or call the hotline at 2112 9932.
Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today
The following is issued on behalf of the Environmental Campaign Committee:
The Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) held the Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony at the Applause Pavilion in Ocean Park Hong Kong today (January 4), signifying a new milestone in the Carbon Neutrality Publicity Campaign as members of the public join together to sustain efforts to reduce the carbon footprint.
The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, officiated at the ceremony. Other officiating guests included the Chairman of the ECC, MsGrace Kwok; the Vice-Chairman of the ECC, Mr Wong Chi-keung; the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Environment), Mr Eddie Cheung; and the Commissioner for Climate Change, Mr Arthur Lee.
Addressing the ceremony, Mr Tse said that the Carbon Neutrality Publicity Campaign launched by the ECC in 2022 has raised public awareness of carbon reduction. The Carbon Reduction Action rolled out in November last year aims to encourage the public to turn their awareness of carbon reduction into action by changing their daily habits to practise low-carbon living. In addition to active participation from citizens, the Campaign has received strong support from nearly 150 strategic and collaborating partners from public and business organisations, non-profit organisations, school sponsoring bodies, etc. Some organisations have further committed to taking on innovative and sustainable carbon reduction measures in their operations, thus contributing positively to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 for Hong Kong. Looking ahead, Mr Tse said he hoped that members of the public would persevere and continue to integrate carbon reduction actions in their daily lives.
Ms Kwok mentioned in her welcoming remarks that, in line with the carbon reduction strategies of the Government's Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050, the ECC has encouraged the public through various channels to support waste reduction at source, energy saving and green transport. In the future, the ECC will continue to encourage the public to reduce carbon emissions and establish a culture of green and low-carbon living. She called on members of the public to work together and inspire their friends and families to change their habits and reduce carbon emissions together to create a greener and more sustainable living environment for future generations.
Mr Tse commended 17 key strategic partners of the Carbon Reduction Action at the ceremony for their planned adoption of innovative and sustainable carbon reduction measures in their operations, including energy-saving innovations, smart food-waste processing systems, green transport and promotion of carbon reduction education, which will contribute actively to achieving the Government's carbon reduction targets set in the Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050.
The ceremony was attended by about 300 individuals, including representatives from various corporate partners, student members of the Ocean Park Conservation Alliance – Seahorse Rangers and Student Environmental Protection Ambassadors of the ECC.
Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Carbon Reduction Action - Continuation Ceremony held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
