The Government has allocated $60.6 million and $11.8 million to enhance the Employment Programme for the Middle-aged and the Work Orientation & Placement Scheme.

The enhanced measures include increasing the financial incentives and extending the subsidy period for participating employers. They will benefit 8,000 middle-aged job seekers and 800 disabled people over the next two years.

Under the enhanced employment programme, the training allowance payable to participating employers who engaged eligible middle-aged job seekers in full-time jobs and provided them with on-the-job training will rise from $1,500 to $2,000 a month for each employee. The subsidy period for deserving cases will be extended from three months to a maximum of six months.

The financial incentives for employers participating in the work orientation and placement scheme will rise from half to two-thirds of the actual wages paid to the disabled employee during the work trial period, and the payment ceiling will rise from $3,000 a month to $4,000.

If employers provide comprehensive training and support to their disabled employees, the subsidy period will be extended from three months to a maximum of six months.

For application details, click here, or call 2150 6398 or 2953 0651.