Hong Kong’s population is rapidly ageing, with residents aged 65 or above expected to surge from the current 900,000 to 2.1 million by 2030. To encourage retirees to re-enter the workforce to counter the shrinking proportion of those at prime working age, nearly 900 jobs are being offered to seniors today under an initiative by The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
The initiative comes through the Club’s Charities Trust funding the Hong Kong Society for the Aged (SAGE) to oversee an Elder-Friendly Employment Practice (EFEP) project under the auspices of CADENZA: A Jockey Club Initiative for Seniors.
Today (19 October), the Club’s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So joined Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare Paul Tang and SAGE Chairman Dr Kim Mak to officiate at the opening ceremony of the third Job Expo held at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill.
Mr So noted the number of jobs on offer at the Expo was similar to last year despite the implementation of a minimum wage, signifying the project had successfully convinced enterprises to hire the elderly and attract more retirees to return to the job market. Even more significantly, Dr Mak said the average monthly salary on offer had reached a record high of more than HK$10,000, which again proved elderly citizens were valuable assets to enterprises. As an added convenience for both the elderly and potential employers, the programme provides an online job search platform to promote post-retirement employment.
Backed by 23 organisations including The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Wharf (Holdings), Hong Kong Disneyland and the Western Harbour Tunnel Company, the expo showcased nearly 900 jobs for seniors aged 50 or above and attracted over 3,500 people to visit or apply for jobs on site. The numbers of participating companies, job vacancies and visitors, as well as the average salary all hit new highs. Jobs on offer included exhibition assistant, real estate trainee, kitchen assistant, shop assistant, nurse, Chinese wedding etiquette guide, accountant, administrative assistant and security guard. The expo comprised three themed sections covering career, education and promotional information, with two talks including Enneagram uncovers Nine Personality Types at Work and Encouraging Elderly as Life Coach.
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.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (front row centre), Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare Paul Tang (front row 7th left), SAGE Chairman Dr Kim Mak (front row 6th left), CADENZA Project Director Professor Jean Woo (front row 7th right) and representatives of participating organisations.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (right) joins Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare Paul Tang (centre) and SAGE Chairman Dr Kim Mak (left) to launch online job search platform www.e72.hk.
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The Cluba£į?s Executive Director, Charities, Douglas So (right), presents a souvenir to Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare Paul Tang (left).
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An EFEP trainee shares his successful experience in returning to the job market.
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The EFEP Job Expo attracted over 3,500 visitors. (Photos 5, 6)
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