To assist young people in transitioning to the workforce, the Pingtung County Government collaborated with 20 companies on the 25th to launch a youth internship program aimed at current students and recent graduates aged 15 to 29. Interns who secure a full-time position can earn up to NT$94,000 in rewards.

Pingtung County Mayor Zhou Chun-mi expressed hopes that this initiative would provide a stage for local youth while strengthening the development of local industries. The program partners with 20 businesses for the first time and offers over 150 internship positions to encourage local youth to participate.

Interns completing 160 hours can receive a maximum allowance of NT$10,000. If they subsequently transition to a full-time role, they can receive an additional NT$84,000 reward, amounting to a total of NT$94,000 for the year. Zhou emphasized that with the rapid growth of various industrial parks in Pingtung, the demand for young talent has become increasingly urgent.

Director of the Labor and Youth Development Division, Li Yuzhen, noted that since mid-April, over 20 companies have responded to the program, offering more than 150 internship opportunities. Participating companies are required to provide salaries based on minimum wage and ensure insurance coverage for interns. Students who complete the internship will receive allowances ranging from NT$5,000 to NT$10,000.

To encourage young people to stay in their roles, Li mentioned that if graduates smoothly transition to full-time positions and meet the eligibility for stable employment incentives, they can receive a monthly NT$2,000 transition reward and NT$5,000 employment assistance for up to 12 months. The starting salary for full-time positions must exceed NT$30,301, and each company can claim a maximum of two subsidies for mentor guidance, capped at NT$5,000. Additionally, to facilitate faster matches between youth and enterprise demands, the Pingtung County Government will hold a job fair on May 25, providing career seminars and resume check services to help enhance the competitive edge of young job seekers.