The Government will from May 1 offer up to 2,000 short-term jobs for the travel trade for providing administrative support to 24 community vaccination centres not run by private hospitals.

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip reached a consensus with the trade after meeting its representatives today.

He noted the epidemic, lasting for over a year, has dealt a heavy blow to the tourism industry. Many practitioners of the trade have to face the problems of being laid off or underemployment, which have seriously affected their livelihood.

He said the Government immediately discussed with the trade after receiving the job creation proposal so as to map out the details shortly. He expressed the hope that the measure would help address the practitioners' imminent needs.

About 1,400 to 2,000 temporary jobs will be created under the Anti-epidemic Fund's Job Creation Scheme, costing about $150 million.

Eighteen organisations in the travel sector will form an administrative supporting company to recruit staff for the jobs. Eligible applicants include tour guides, tour escorts, travel agent staff, hotel staff, coach drivers and the like. Successful applicants will be hired for around five months from May 1, with monthly salaries ranging $10,000 to $40,000. Brief training will be provided.

The bureau said the provision of administrative support by the travel trade will enable more flexible manpower deployment as civil servants who have been currently deployed to the centres earlier can return to their original posts and provide services to the public.

The inoculation and medical-related duties will continue to be handled by professional medical staff, it added.