The Work Trial Scheme which helps job-seekers with special difficulties find jobs is effective, the Labour Department says, adding it will continue to implement the scheme this year.

In a Legislative Council paper, the department said scheme participants will be arranged to work in jobs offered by participating organisations.

On satisfactory completion of the one-month work trial, the participant will be paid a $5,000 allowance, of which $500 is contributed by the participating organisation.

As at end of last year, 321 job-seekers were placed into work trials. Of them, 176 had completed the one-month work trial, 37 were still under trial, 78 resigned and 30 were dismissed.

Of the 176 participants who had completed the work trial programme, 132 were offered employment after the work trial. Those 107 participants who accepted job offers were paid wages mainly in the range of $5,000 to $6,000.

Job placements up 31%

Reviewing last year's work, the department said it achieved 113,090 job placements, up 31% over 2004.

A total of 425,952 vacancies were received from the private sector, up 43% over the previous year.

The department mounted 176 joint operations with the Police and Immigration Department against illegal employment, up 69% over 2004, arresting 538 illegal workers and 237 employers.

The Labour Relations Division handled 26,189 labour disputes and claims last year, down 9% over the 28,666 cases in 2004

The number of applications received by the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund dropped 27% to 9,967, a record low since 1997. The accumulated surplus of the fund stood at $304.8 million as at the end of last year.