Job Programmes Make Progress

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau today said the Future International Talent (FIT) programme and the Telecommunications Opportunities Programme (TOP) have made very good progress.

The Commerce & Economic Development Bureau announced that five more international chambers of commerce in Hong Kong will join its FIT programme and are ready to provide more job opportunities for young people apart from the six existing partner chambers.

The five chambers of commerce are the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong & Macao, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

In January, the bureau launched the FIT programme and TOP in collaboration with six international chambers of commerce in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG) respectively to create full-time entry-level job opportunities for young people in the creative industries and telecommunications sectors.

Under the two programmes, the Government provides monthly salary subsidies under the Job Creation Scheme funded by the Anti-epidemic Fund at $5,610 per fresh graduate or to-be graduate with no work experience and $10,000 for young people with no more than five years of work experience, for a maximum of 12 months.

Mr Yau said: “FIT and TOP provide much-needed job opportunities for our young people at this difficult time, offering them global perspectives and wider exposure through work.

“Thanks to the support and collaboration of the participating partner chambers and the HKFYG, the two programmes are proceeding well and making very good progress.

“I am delighted to have five new partner chambers on board for FIT. I am confident that their comprehensive networks and knowledge of the trade will add to the success of the programme.”

Currently, 92 member companies of the existing partner chambers have offered a total of 160 job and internship positions. The companies are now preparing for their recruitment exercises.

For the new participating chambers, the bureau has opened a second round of applications for their member companies ending on March 31 with a view to announcing the results by mid-April and commencing recruitment thereafter.

Regarding the TOP, the bureau said the smooth execution by the HKFYG and support from over ten telecommunications-related companies have created about 120 job vacancies in the telecommunications sector.

Participating companies are now conducting recruitment exercises and interns are expected to commence work from April, it added.