CADENZA supports first job expo for elderly to encourage post-retirement employment

10/09/2010

Latest Government figures indicate that Hong Kong's elderly population will continue to grow significantly, with nearly 30 per cent of the population likely to be aged 65 or older by 2039.  Conversely, the proportion of those at prime working age will shrink, meaning it is necessary to boost post-retirement employment to help sustain Hong Kong’s economic development.

To help retirees re-enter the workforce and encourage local businesses to adopt more flexible retirement policies, The Hong Kong Society for the Aged (SAGE) has established a four-year project called "Elder-Friendly Employment Practice" (EFEP) under the auspices of CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors, which is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. 

Today (10 September), a major local job expo specifically for those aged 50 or above was organised by EFEP today with more than a dozen organisations offering some 250 job vacancies for older applicants.  The event at Olympian City also featured various career talks to assist seniors to return to the job market.

“Today’s job expo for the elderly is the first of its kind in Hong Kong,” said the Club’s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So.  “We hope this will actively promote the concept of post-retirement employment in society, encouraging more employers to hire retirees. The elderly can also join the ‘Program STAR -Senior Talent Acquisition & Retention’ service to enhance their employability.”

Elderly Commission Chairman Dr the Hon Leong Che-hung commented that post-retirement employment was one of the prerequisites for an elderly-friendly city.  “As an international metropolis, Hong Kong has the need to formulate comprehensive policies for the elderly in the face of an increasing elderly population,” he said.  “These policies should help enhance the quality of services for the elderly and encourage their participation in post-retirement employment, as this can minimise discrimination in the long term and promote their integration into society.  Under such conditions, the elderly will be able to achieve positive ageing and live in a healthy and harmonious environment.”

The EFEP job expo comprised three themed sections covering career, education and promotional information.  Four recruitment talks were also offered on the topics of job application letters, interview skills, personal image and the Mandatory Provident Fund.  The expo was backed by 15 organisations including The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Sino Property Services and Maxim's Group, which offered job vacancies in such areas as medical services, rehabilitation, sales and marketing, clerical services, security and engineering.

CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors is a project launched by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust with a donation of HK$380 million in 2006.  The project aims at nurturing academic leadership in gerontology and changing the mindset and attitude of the general public through a range of training and public education programmes.  Cross-sectional collaboration between organisations and the implementation of innovative elderly services and programmes are also encouraged in order to bring about a new mode of elderly care services to prepare for a rapidly ageing society.  Details of CADENZA are available at www.cadenza.hk.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has become one of Hong Kong’s best known and respected organisations, providing the public with world-class sporting entertainment as well as being the city’s major non-Government community benefactor, now donating more than HK$1 billion a year to charitable and community projects.  It has been a part of Hong Kong through good times and bad, sharing the city’s growth and development with its people, and is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations.