The Labour Department has earmarked $26 million for the Graduate Employment Training Scheme to help fresh graduates enhance their ability to land jobs.

The scheme, jointly launched by seven local universities and the Government, will provide 2,000 training vacancies. Employers are welcome to hire university graduates and give them on-the-job training.

Participants must be Hong Kong residents holding bachelor degrees awarded in 2003 by local or overseas universities and who are legally employable in Hong Kong.

In exceptional cases, graduates who received their bachelor degrees in the two years prior to 2003 and who are having an especially hard time finding work may also join the scheme.

Private sector to provide training vacancies

Training vacancies will come from the private sector. Employers joining the scheme must formulate training plans for the graduates and provide them with suitable training during the employment period.

Participating employers will receive a monthly allowance of $2,000 for each trainee engaged for up to six months.

Employers are required to pay the trainees at a market rate freely negotiated by the two parties. A formal employer-employee relationship will exist between the participating employer and the graduate trainee.

Employers must also undertake not to displace existing employees with the trainees.

Universities to help place own graduates

The seven universities will be responsible for placing their own graduates in training posts offered under the scheme. They will canvass suitable vacancies according to their graduates' circumstances and needs.

The department will be responsible for securing suitable vacancies for overseas graduates and placing them in the vacancies under the scheme.

For details, visit the department's website or call its Graduate Employment Training Scheme Office at 8101 0262.