A free seminar will be held June 12 to introduce the benefits of applying for Workplace English Benchmarks.

Standing Committee on Language Education & Research Acting Secretary Dr Tony Lee said since their inception in 2000, the benchmarks have helped many companies in developing their English language requirements for recruitment and promotion.

Both employers and employees benefit by referring to the benchmarks as self-improvement targets for career growth, he said. Therefore, it is a win-win situation for both employers and employees to adopt the benchmarks.

The benchmarks were developed by the Workplace English Campaign, initially for employees of low proficiency job type, front-line service personnel, clerks, receptionists/operators, secretaries and executives/administrators/associate professionals, to spell out the standards of English writing and speaking that they should attain.

Seminar will heighten understanding

To heighten public understanding about the benchmarks and their value for local employers and employees, the Workplace English Campaign will organise a series of seminars, the first targeting people with little benchmark knowledge.

The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese at 3pm at Atrium Plaza, 1/F Plaza Hollywood, Diamond Hill.

Admission is free, but as seats are limited pre-registration has to be made on a first-come-first-served basis at this website.

The seminar is one of the highlights of the Workplace English Zone jointly presented by the Workplace English Campaign and the JobMarket to provide information on the campaign, the benchmarks, the Funding Scheme for Workplace English Training and various workplace English training courses.