Enterprises and organisations from all sectors are invited to offer training positions through the internship programme for university graduates, the Labour Department says.

About 4,000 places for university graduates to work as interns and receive training in Hong Kong or Mainland enterprises for six to 12 months will be offered. Up to 1,000 of those places will be earmarked for Mainland internship opportunities.

Hong Kong residents who have obtained full-time bachelor or higher degrees from the 12 participating tertiary institutions in the last two years are eligible for application, starting on August 1.

Enterprises and organisations will need to draw up training plans for the interns and have experienced employees serve as mentors to provide appropriate training and guidance. They must also provide an undertaking that the interns will not displace existing staff.

Those offering local internships will assume the capacity of employers and pay interns wages commensurate with the duties, responsibilities and training contents of the positions. The employers will be eligible for a training subsidy of $2,000 per intern per month payable by the Government.

Mainland internships will not be premised on an employment relationship. The Government will provide each intern with a living allowance of $3,000 a month and, depending on circumstances, an accommodation allowance of $1,500 a month.  The Government will also take out an insurance policy for participants in Mainland internships.