LCQ17: Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged
14.12.2022

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Pui-leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (December 14): Question: Regarding the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged (EPEM), will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the numbers of placements for employees in the two age groups of (a) aged 40 to 59 and (b) aged 60 or above in each of the past five years as well as their respective average numbers over those five years, with a breakdown by (i) industry, (ii) occupation, (iii) education level, and (iv) salary level (set out in Tables 1 to 4); Table 1 (i) Age group No. of placements 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Average no. over the past five years (a) (b) Table 2 (ii) Age group No. of placements 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Average no. over the past five years (a) (b) Table 3 (iii) Age group No. of placements 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Average no. over the past five years (a) (b) Table 4 (iv) Age group No. of placements 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Average no. over the past five years (a) (b) (2) of (i) the on-the-job training (OJT) completion rate and (ii) the retention rate upon completion of OJT of the employees with placements, in each of the past five years, as well as their average completion rate and average retention rate over those five years, with a breakdown by type of job ((a) full-time or (b) part-time) (set out in Table 5); Table 5 Type of job 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Average completion rate/retention rate over the past five years (i) (a) (b) (ii) (a) (b) (3) of the (i) number of cases, (ii) number of employees, and (iii) expenditure involved in the applications for the OJT allowance which were approved in each of the past five years (with a breakdown by the two age groups of (a) aged 40 to 59 and (b) aged 60 or above) as well as the respective average numbers of (i), (ii) and (iii) over the past five years (set out in Table 6); and Table 6 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Average no. over the past five years (i) (ii) (iii) (a) (b) (4) whether it has set performance indicators for EPEM and reviewed in a timely manner its effectiveness in promoting the employment of elderly and middle-aged job seekers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that? Reply: President, My reply to the Member's question is provided as follows: (1) The breakdowns of placements eligible for joining the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged (EPEM) (previously called the Employment Programme for the Middle-aged before September 2018) during 2017 to 2021 for the two age groups of "40 to 59" and "60 or above" by industry, occupation, educational attainment and salary level are provided at Annex 1. (2) The Labour Department (LD) has all along been monitoring the on-the-job training (OJT) completion rates and retention rates for placements under the EPEM. The breakdown of the OJT completion rates of placements under the EPEM during 2017 to 2021 by full-time or part-time employment is provided at Annex 2. The LD has been conducting surveys continuously to understand the retention status of those placed into employment under the EPEM. According to the survey results as at September 2022, among the employees who had received the OJT under the EPEM, about 80 per cent recorded a retention period of four months or above and 67 per cent stayed in employment for six months or more. (3) The number of placements with the OJT allowance granted under the EPEM and the number of employers involved during 2017 to 2021, and the breakdown of the amount of the OJT allowance granted during 2017-18 to 2021-22 by age group are provided at Annex 3. (4) The LD has enhanced the follow-up measures for monitoring the implementation of the EPEM. Apart from assisting employees to complete the OJT, the LD also collects the views of employers and employees on the programme when conducting surveys as mentioned in part (2) above, with a view to exploring measures for enhancing the programme. For instance, in September 2020, the LD raised the amount of the OJT allowance under the EPEM (Note), seeking to encourage more employers to hire elderly and middle-aged job seekers and to provide them with the OJT. As the numbers of placements and applications for the OJT, etc. under the EPEM are affected by such factors as the economic environment and employment market conditions, it is inappropriate to use these figures for devising key performance indicators. The LD will continue to conduct surveys, and listen to the views of employers and employees with a view to enhancing the implementation of the programme. Note: The maximum amount of the OJT allowance payable to employers engaging unemployed job seekers aged 40 to 59 was increased from $3,000 to $4,000 per month per employee for a period of three to six months. For employers engaging job seekers aged 60 or above who are unemployed or have left the workforce, the maximum amount of the OJT allowance was raised from $4,000 to $5,000 per month per employee for a period of six to 12 months.