The Labour Department will launch a work trial scheme in June providing 2,000 work trial places for job seekers who have special difficulties finding jobs. The scheme is estimated to cost about $9 million.

In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council Panel on Manpower, the department said the scheme targets include job-seekers who have registered at the Labour Department for a prolonged period but remain unemployed, and those who have failed repeatedly in job interviews.

Scheme participants will take up jobs offered by the participating organisations. During the work trial period, there will be no employment relationship between the participant and the participating organisation.

This is to encourage more participants to open up work trial vacancies for job seekers, the department said.

On satisfactory completion of the one-month work trial, the scheme participant will receive an allowance of $5,000.

Of this, the department will contribute $4,500 while the participating organisation will pay $500.

$5,000 allowance 'appropriate', 'attractive'

An allowance of $5,000 is appropriate and attractive enough to job seekers interested in taking up the work trial, the department said, adding that it is broadly comparable to the wage level employers offer for jobs at the elementary level.

The participating organisation will be required to pay $500 to the department before taking on the scheme participant. After the work trial, the Government will pay $5,000 to the participant if he/she has completed at least 80% of the work trial.

To prevent organisations from abusing the scheme, the Labour Department will conduct, on a random basis, on-site inspections to ensure they comply with the scheme requirements.

Any organisation found to have no sincerity in employing scheme participants as permanent employees on satisfactory completion after their work trial will be barred from taking part in the scheme in future.