The Hong Kong Labour Department (LD) announced on January 2 the launch of the 2025 Greater Bay Area (GBA) Youth Employment Scheme, as well as enhancements to the GBA Youth Employment Scheme and the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) to strengthen employment services and support for young people.
The Chief Executive in the 2024 Policy Address announced measures to strengthen employment services and support for young people, including, starting from this year, relaxing the eligibility requirements for the GBA Youth Employment Scheme to allow young people aged 29 or below with sub-degree or higher qualifications to join the Scheme, while increasing the limit of the monthly allowance granted to enterprises to $12,000 for a period of up to 18 months. Moreover, the upper age limit for participants of the YETP is raised to 29 and workplace attachment opportunities in the GBA under the YETP will be introduced to assist young people to enhance employability and promote sustainable development.
In addition, the Government will launch the Arrangements for Mainland Youth to Work in Hong Kong under the GBA Youth Employment Scheme. Starting this year, enterprises which have participated in the Scheme and employed Hong Kong young people to work in GBA Mainland cities may apply for the same number of Mainland young people to work in Hong Kong according to relevant requirements under the Arrangements.
The GBA Youth Employment Scheme encourages enterprises with businesses in both Hong Kong and Mainland cities of the GBA to hire Hong Kong young people to work in GBA Mainland cities to foster their career development and talent exchanges within the GBA.
