Hong Kong Fact-File Part 6:
Individual Business Employment Issues

6.3 Hong Kong Apprenticeship and Work Experience Schemes

Apprenticeship schemes

Apprenticeship schemes are regulated under the Apprenticeship Ordinance and are administered by the Office of the Director of Apprenticeship. The Office ensures that all trainees and apprentices are receiving tuition and on the job training as laid out in the Apprenticeship Ordinance.

The craft apprenticeship training scheme covers over 45 designated and non-designated trade, including the following industries:

· Automobile
· Electrical
· Electronic
· Mechanical
· Plastic
· Construction
· Air-conditioning
· Printing
· Jewellery
· Hospitality

It takes between three and four years to complete one of the above apprenticeship courses. Students having completed a basic craft course prior to starting on the scheme may shorten their apprenticeship by as much as one year.

Craft apprentices receive a monthly salary that increases with each completed year and is set by the Hong Kong Civil Service Bureau. At the time of writing, the starting salary is HKD5,595 and in the last year is HKD7,970. The employer must meet the cost of the salary.

Apprenticeship contracts must be registered with the Director of Apprenticeship within 60 days. An employers’ failing to do so will be subject to a financial penalty.

Work experience schemes

The Youth Pre-employment Training Programme (YPTP) and Youth Work Experience & Training Scheme (YWETS) are schemes for young people not educated to degree level. The programmes aim to give young people opportunities to learn about themselves and their likes and dislikes as well as providing a one month workplace attachment to private companies, welfare organisations and government departments.

Participating employers can claim a monthly training allowance of HKD2,000 and must provide a suitable mentor within the workplace to guide the trainee. Trainees do not have an employment contract during the attachment and are not entitled to any of the benefits usually associated with employment. Upon completion of the attachment a HKD2,000 attachment allowance is payable to the trainee.

Trainees are encouraged to enrol in vocational training courses for which they can apply for re-imbursement of enrolment and examination fees of up to HKD4,000.