Hong Kong Enhances Support for Employment of Elderly and Middle-Aged Workers
Government introduces various initiatives to promote employment and address age discrimination in the workforce.
The Hong Kong government is stepping up its support for the elderly and middle-aged workforce with a range of initiatives aimed at improving employment opportunities and combating age discrimination.
In a written response to the Legislative Council on January 8, 2025, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr. Chris Sun, outlined key measures and statistics relating to the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged (EPEM) and other initiatives aimed at bolstering this demographic’s participation in the workforce.
The EPEM, designed to assist people aged 40 and above, offers on-the-job training (OJT) allowances to encourage employers to hire older workers.
From 2018 to 2024, the program has seen a steady increase in eligible placements, with over 4,000 placements in 2024 alone.
The government provides a monthly allowance of up to HK$5,000 for workers aged 60 and above, and HK$4,000 for those aged 40 to 59.
To address employer engagement, the Labour Department (LD) has sent invitations to thousands of eligible employers to join the program.
Over the past seven years, the number of responses has grown, with increasing numbers of employers willing to participate in the program despite some reluctance from others.
In addition to the EPEM, the government has introduced the Re-employment Allowance (REA) Scheme, which aims to encourage the long-term unemployed, particularly those over 40, to return to the workforce.
Since the REA scheme's launch in July 2024, over 27,000 individuals have participated, and more than 8,000 placements have been made.
However, the government is also addressing concerns about age discrimination in the workplace.
The LD has received numerous enquiries and complaints about age-based discrimination, particularly regarding older job seekers.
While the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination laws, age is not currently a protected characteristic under Hong Kong’s discrimination ordinances.
The government has been reluctant to introduce legislation banning age discrimination, citing the complexity of the issue and its potential impact on the economy.
Despite this, the government is actively encouraging employers to adopt inclusive hiring practices and follow the principle of evaluating talent based on ability, not age.
The LD continues to promote equal employment through various public education campaigns and has emphasized the importance of eliminating age bias in recruitment and the workplace.
With these comprehensive efforts, the Hong Kong government is working to increase the labour force participation of older workers and create more inclusive employment opportunities for this growing segment of the population.
In a written response to the Legislative Council on January 8, 2025, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr. Chris Sun, outlined key measures and statistics relating to the Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged (EPEM) and other initiatives aimed at bolstering this demographic’s participation in the workforce.
The EPEM, designed to assist people aged 40 and above, offers on-the-job training (OJT) allowances to encourage employers to hire older workers.
From 2018 to 2024, the program has seen a steady increase in eligible placements, with over 4,000 placements in 2024 alone.
The government provides a monthly allowance of up to HK$5,000 for workers aged 60 and above, and HK$4,000 for those aged 40 to 59.
To address employer engagement, the Labour Department (LD) has sent invitations to thousands of eligible employers to join the program.
Over the past seven years, the number of responses has grown, with increasing numbers of employers willing to participate in the program despite some reluctance from others.
In addition to the EPEM, the government has introduced the Re-employment Allowance (REA) Scheme, which aims to encourage the long-term unemployed, particularly those over 40, to return to the workforce.
Since the REA scheme's launch in July 2024, over 27,000 individuals have participated, and more than 8,000 placements have been made.
However, the government is also addressing concerns about age discrimination in the workplace.
The LD has received numerous enquiries and complaints about age-based discrimination, particularly regarding older job seekers.
While the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) is responsible for enforcing anti-discrimination laws, age is not currently a protected characteristic under Hong Kong’s discrimination ordinances.
The government has been reluctant to introduce legislation banning age discrimination, citing the complexity of the issue and its potential impact on the economy.
Despite this, the government is actively encouraging employers to adopt inclusive hiring practices and follow the principle of evaluating talent based on ability, not age.
The LD continues to promote equal employment through various public education campaigns and has emphasized the importance of eliminating age bias in recruitment and the workplace.
With these comprehensive efforts, the Hong Kong government is working to increase the labour force participation of older workers and create more inclusive employment opportunities for this growing segment of the population.
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