Mainland work plan helps young people from HK

More than 1,000 young people from Hong Kong have been employed on the Chinese mainland in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area following trial implementation of a youth employment plan, according to labor and welfare authorities.

"We will consistently promote the employment plan, due to high recognition of the effectiveness during its trial implementation," said Chris Sun, secretary of the Labor and Welfare Bureau of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Sun made the remarks during a ceremony to recognize the employment of young people from Hong Kong in the mainland cities of the GBA. The ceremony was held in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Wednesday.

The GBA Youth Employment Scheme, unveiled by the Hong Kong government in early 2021, aimed to encourage and support young people from the SAR in their pursuit of careers.

Additionally, more than 400 companies have provided some 3,400 jobs for young people from Hong Kong since the trial run began, Sun said.

Hong Kong residents who have completed a bachelor's degree or above from 2021 to 2023 and is eligible for employment in Hong Kong can participate in the program.

Under the plan, the Hong Kong government provides a monthly allowance of HK$10,000 ($1,278) per person to enterprises, based on the number of employees, for a maximum period of 18 months.

Companies involved in the scheme are required to hire target graduates in accordance with Hong Kong laws and with a monthly salary of no less than HK$18,000, and assign them to work in a mainland city within the GBA.

To facilitate more enterprises and youth participants, the application period for the youth employment plan has been extended to Dec 31, Sun said.

Young people from Hong Kong and Macao who work and start businesses in Guangdong can receive equal insurance coverage and benefits, according to the Guangdong provincial authorities of human resources and social security.

Currently, more than 330,000 Hong Kong and Macao residents have participated in insurance plans for pensions, work-related injuries and unemployment in Guangdong, the authorities said.