The Government will seek approval from the Legislative Council's Finance Committee to allocate $1.2 billion to extend or create about 22,700 jobs.

They include the extension of 11,700 temporary jobs in the public sector, the extension of the Youth Work Experience & Training Scheme to place 10,000 young people in jobs and the implementation of the Youth Self-employment Support Scheme for 1,000 people.

From 2000 to 2003, the Government created 18,000 temporary jobs in six departments and the Hospital Authority to alleviate the economic problems due to the high unemployment rate and the SARS outbreak. A total of 11,700 of them will be extended. The remaining temporary jobs will not be extended after reviews by concerned departments.

Later this month, the Economic Development & Labour Bureau will ask the Finance Committee to approve the allocation of $873.76 million for extending the jobs.

Gov't committed to tackling unemployment

Permanent Secretary Matthew Cheung said the Administration, which has assigned many resources to extend the jobs despite the deficit, is committed to alleviating the unemployment situation.

He told members of the LegCo Panel on Manpower that there is a time limit for temporary jobs, and the unemployment problem needs to be resolved by a revival of the private labour market.

In recent months, the situation has shown obvious signs of improvement, with an increase of job vacancies. The Labour Department has a record of receiving some 1,600 job vacancies in one day after the Chinese Lunar Year, he noted.

Responding to panel members' concerns that the unemployment rate still stands high at 7.3%, Mr Cheung pledged to explore with other departments the possibility of opening more temporary jobs.

Gov't provides support services for jobless

Mr Cheung said there will be support services for those whose temporary jobs will not be extended, most of whom are young people.

The Labour Department will organise two major job fairs in the Central Library on February 27 and in the Queen Elizabeth Stadium on April 7, which should provide many opportunities for job seekers.

In addition, those who are eligible can join the department's Youth Work Experience & Training Scheme, which aims to provide on-the-job training and work experience to young people aged 15-24 who do not have a degree.

The scheme has been well received and will be extended to cater for 10,000 youths.

Those interested in self-employment may consider joining the Youth Self-employment Support Scheme to be launched in the second quarter for 1,000 youths.

The bureau will seek the Finance Committee's approval of $300 million for the Youth Work Experience & Training Scheme and $30 million for the Youth Self-employment Support Scheme next month.

Services available for jobless of all ages

Job seekers in other age groups can make use of the department's diversified employment services, including the Job Matching Programme which provides more personalised services to individual job-seekers.

Those aged 40 and above may join the Re-employment Training Programme for the Middle-aged. About 10,000 places are available under the programme. There are also 7,000 places under the Local Domestic Helpers Incentive Allowance Scheme.