Unemployed offered temporary jobs

Thousands in the hardest-hit industries will be given the chance of cleaning and repair work, or offered retraining

Thousands of jobless people from the service and construction industries are to be offered temporary work cleaning streets and carrying out domestic repairs. The measures, to include retraining, are aimed at easing the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) on the unemployment rate.

The moves will cost the government $482 million and will last for between two and six months. A total of 21,500 temporary jobs and training places will be created. Between 8,000 and 10,000 retraining places will be reserved for former employees from the tourism, retailing and catering industries, who will be able to upgrade their skills in languages and other areas.

Those who take the recognised, tailor-made courses will be entitled to a monthly allowance of $4,000 for up to two months.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will also hire 3,000 temporary workers for street cleaning for up to three months in a programme that will cost about $150 million.

The government will spend $50 million to allow trade unions and non-government organisations to hire about 2,500 domestic helpers registered with the Employees Retraining Board to help clean up homes of the elderly for three months.