The Labour Department provides diversified modes of free employment and recruitment services to job-seekers and employers through a network of 10 district-based Job Centres, a Telephone Employment Service Centre, a Central Recruitment Unit and a Job Vacancy Processing Centre. Job-seekers can make use of facilities such as vacancy search terminals, telephones, fax machines and computers with Internet connection in the Job Centres to complete the whole job-hunting process at one stop. Employment services are also available on the Internet round-the-clock through the Interactive Employment Services (iES) website (www.jobs.gov.hk). The website recorded a historic high of 684 million page views in 2004 and is the Government's most popular website. The department also organises special recruitment activities in the form of job bazaars, mini-job fairs and recruitment seminars to assist job-seekers in finding jobs and employers in recruiting staff.

During the year, 223 229 job-seekers registered with the Labour Department. An all-time high of 297 186 private sector vacancies were received, up 38 per cent over the level of 215 430 in 2003. The department also achieved a historic high job placement figure of 86 257 in 2004, up 31 per cent over 66 100 in 2003.

Re-employment Training Programme for the Middle-aged

The Re-employment Training Programme for the Middle-aged was launched in May 2003 to assist unemployed job-seekers aged 40 or above to secure employment. A training allowance of $1,500 per month for each trainee for not more than three months is granted to employers who engage the middle-aged unemployed and provide them with on-the-job training. As at end-2004, a total of 8 606 job-seekers have been placed into employment under the programme.

Helping the Disabled Find Jobs

The Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department helps people with a disability integrate into the community through open employment. It provides free employment counselling and placement services for the hearing impaired, visually impaired, physically handicapped, chronically ill, ex-mentally ill and mentally handicapped. In 2004, the division launched a series of activities to promote the employment of people with disabilities. It registered disabled 4 002 job-seekers and achieved 2 391 placements.

Employment Agencies

The Employment Agencies Administration of the Labour Department enforces Part XII of the Employment Ordinance and the Employment Agency Regulations. It monitors the operation of employment agencies through licensing, inspection and investigation of complaints. In 2004, it issued 1 501 employment agency licences, revoked eight such licences and refused to issue two licences.