The Government's temporary job programmes may be extended, Secretary for Economic Services & Labour Stephen Ip says.

Addressing legislators today, Mr Ip said the Government is carefully considering whether to extend the jobs, taking into account its overall financial position and the operational need for extending the jobs.

To help the unemployed enter the labour market, the Government has launched a series of measures since 2000 creating 29,832 temporary jobs. Of these, over 23,000 are ongoing, including 18,900 which will expire by March.

In respect of the jobs pledged in the 2001 Policy Address, Mr Ip said about 20,000 were for works projects and will expire upon their completion.

Nevertheless, with target average annual spending at about $29 billion in the coming five years (higher than the $27 billion per annum in the past five years), the Capital Works Programme as a whole (including minor works) will require an average of about 41,000 construction workers and 4,200 professional/technical staff.

These should be able to absorb many of the workers from the lapsed works projects, Mr Ip said.