Highlights of the Scheme and Success Stories

The Work Trial Scheme
To offer work trial places  To discover potential talents

The Labour Department launched the Work Trial Scheme (the Scheme) in July 2005 to enhance the employability of job-seekers who have difficulties in finding jobs.

Content of the Scheme

Under the Scheme, participants will be arranged to work in real jobs offered by participating organizations. Participating organizations will provide on-the-job training to the participants and appoint a mentor to coach the participants during the work trial period. A participant will, on satisfactory completion of the one-month work trial, be paid an allowance of $6,000 of which $500 is contributed by the participating organization. To qualify for the work trial allowance, the participant has to attain an attendance rate of at least 80%.

There will be no employment relationship between the participants and the participating organizations in the work trial period and the Labour Department will take out insurance for the participants. Participating organizations are encouraged to offer employment to participants after satisfactory completion of work trials.

Highlights of the Scheme

Feedback from employers is encouraging. Among others, the service sector is most supportive towards the Scheme, followed by the import and export industry and the manufacturing industry. As for the work trial posts offered, most of them are clerical support workers, elementary occupations and associate professionals. As at 31 December 2011, nearly 3,800 job seekers have been placed into work trials. Among those participants who have completed the one-month work trial, over 75% of them are offered employment. With effect from 1 May 2011, the amount of work trial allowance has been increased from $5,500 to $6,000.

For enquiries, please contact the Work Trial Scheme Co-ordinating Office hotline at 2152 2090 or browse our website http://www.jobs.gov.hk.

Below are the highlights of three job seekers who have successfully secured employment through participating in the Scheme:

Case 1

A mature and reliable employee

Ms. CHAN Mei-chun had used to be a sewing machine operator before she changed job to work for an electronic company as a sales coordinator for 13 years. Unfortunately, she lost her job in 2010. She spent a year looking for another job. To her disappointment, most of the resumes she sent out went unanswered. Finally, as advised by the placement officer of the Labour Department, she joined the Work Trial Scheme (the Scheme) and was arranged to work as a sales coordinator under the Scheme in Keswick Global Services Limited (KGSL) in February 2011. Working in KGSL, which mainly engages in the export of brand-name garment, Ms. CHAN is able to bring her potential into full play by utilising the knowledge she gained in the garment industry and her experience as a sales coordinator in an electronic company. Coupled with suitable training provided by the company, Ms CHAN’s good performance during the work trial period earned her praises and recognition. After the one-month work trial period, she was offered employment by the company with a handsome pay rise! At present, Ms. CHAN is a member of the company. She still keeps up the momentum and attends garment courses after work, striving to become a reliable and competent employee.

Photo: Ms. CHAN Mei-chun is immersed in her work!

Mr. Anthony KAM and Miss May KAM, the persons-in-charge of KGSL, are very satisfied with Ms. CHAN’s performance. The company had long been searching for a sales coordinator with experience in the garment industry. As recommended by friends, the company joined the Scheme and successfully recruited Ms. CHAN who has ample experience in the field. They both said that they would definitely continue to participate in the Scheme!

Photo: Ms. CHAN Mei-chun (middle) gets along well with her seniors, Mr. Anthony KAM (left) and Miss May KAM (right).

Case 2

From “zero experience” to a successful salesman

After completing his Form 5 studies, Mr. KONG Chun-mong decided to find a job and begin his career. However, he did not have any actual work experience and had no idea which kind of work would suit him. He decided to seek help from the Labour Department and with the encouragement of the placement officer, Mr. KONG joined the Work Trial Scheme (the Scheme). He was so lucky to come across Mr. Philip WONG of Visual Acuity. Mr. WONG, a very open-minded employer, patiently taught him sales techniques and a lot about optical products during the work trial. Mr. WONG even offered him employment as a salesman in July 2010 after the work trial. Mr. KONG is very grateful to Mr. WONG for helping him rebuild confidence and expand his horizons and knowledge through the Scheme. He is now able to handle customer enquiries independently and make successful sales pitches for various optical products.

Photo: Mr. KONG Chun-mong, a mature and smart salesman after training

Mr. WONG of Visual Acuity learnt about the Scheme from the Announcement of Public Interest on radio. He commented favourably on the Scheme, saying that it not only provided work trial opportunities for participants to see if they were suitable for the jobs, but also helped employers to find out more about the capabilities of participants and see if they were responsible and reliable. During the work trial, Mr. WONG found Mr. KONG a very honest young man, so he decided to offer him long-term employment. Mr. WONG thinks that joining the Scheme is indeed a good choice.

Photo: Mr. KONG Chun-mong (right) and his friend and mentor, Mr. Philip WONG (left)

Case 3

A new arrival who successfully integrates into society

Brought up and educated in Mainland China, Ms. YANG Lirong moved to Hong Kong in 2008. She holds a certificate in financial accounting in Mainland China, but the qualification is not recognised in Hong Kong. She wanted to find a job, but as a stranger in the territory, she had no idea where to start. She was anxious, seeing no clear path ahead. One day, when browsing the webpage of the Work Trial Scheme (the Scheme), she clicked into the success stories posted there by chance. Hoping that she could find a job like those in the success stories, she approached the Labour Department to apply for joining the Scheme. Referred by the placement officer, Ms YANG submitted an application to Profilia of West Germany (Far East) Limited for the post of clerk and was offered a one-month work trial. During the work trial period, her supervisor coached her patiently, enabling her to understand the operation of the company and gain knowledge of the computer system. Subsequently, the company offered her employment in November 2010. Now Ms. YANG not only enjoys a stable income, but also makes some good friends in the workplace. She finds it much easier to integrate into the local life. Ms. YANG is very willing to share her experience with others. She hopes that her story can encourage job seekers to keep up their efforts despite difficulties, so that they can create their own success story.

Photo: Ms. YANG Lirong is very satisfied with her present job.

Ms. CHAN Wai-ming, Administration Manager of Profilia of West Germany (Far East) Limited, appreciates Ms. YANG’s work ability very much. As the company has retail and wholesale business for bedding products in the Mainland, Ms. YANG can make good use of her fluent Putonghua when answering calls from Mainland customers. Ms. CHAN said that since the Scheme had helped them find a right person for the post, they would have no hesitation in joining the Scheme again.

Photo: Ms. YANG Lirong (left) thanks her supervisor Ms. CHAN Wai-ming (right) and the company for giving her training and guidance.