Home > Press Releases > 2021 > ERB is launching the “Love Upgrading Special Scheme” Phase 5 in January 2022
To continue its support to people in need of skills enhancement

The fluctuating pandemic situation around the world casts uncertainties on the global and local economy.  In view of the prevailing economy and employment market, the Government continues to entrust the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) to launch Phase 5 of the “Love Upgrading Special Scheme” (“Special Scheme 5”) in January 2022 to sustain the support for job seekers and employees affected for skills enhancement.  The Special Scheme 5 will last for six months, expecting to support around 20,000 persons in need.

ERB has launched four phases of the Special Scheme since October 2019.  Enrolment for Phase 4 will end on 31 December 2021.  By end of November 2021, about 290,000 applications were received for Phase 1 to Phase 4, indicating the immense training need of the general public.  ERB will launch Phase 5 on 1 January 2022, offering around 500 training courses straddling 28 industries, including around 410 vocational skills courses, around 30 innovation and technology courses, and around 60 generic skills courses.  Among them, there will be around 120 dedicated courses for young people, ethnic minorities, new arrivals, persons with disabilities and persons recovered from work injuries.  60% of all courses on offer can be conducted online.

ERB continues to offer an array of special arrangements for the Special Scheme 5, including no restriction on engaging industry or educational attainment of trainees, courses offered free of charge, disbursement of special allowance at a ceiling of $5,800 per month, provision of “Enterprise-based Training”, as well as the time-limited flexible measure of lowering the attendance rate requirement for disbursing the special allowance from 80% to 60%, which is also applicable to ERB regular courses with classes commencing within the Special Scheme 5 period (i.e. 1 January to 30 September 2022).  To uphold the training quality, trainees are still required to meet the standard attendance rate requirement of respective courses (80% in general) before they are eligible for the course-end assessment and graduation certificates upon passing of the assessments.  Trainees who have completed full time vocational skills courses or placement-tied courses with an attainment of 80% attendance rate will be provided with placement follow-up service. 

Applicants of the Special Scheme 5 have to be unemployed, underemployed or required by employers to take no pay leave on or after 1 June 2019 and should meet the entry requirements of individual courses.  Eligible persons may submit applications in person, by post or online from 1 January to 30 June 2022 and attend classes on or before 30 September 2022.  Each applicant may apply up to a total of four training courses under the five phases of the Special Scheme with no more than two full-time vocational skills courses.  For applicants who have enrolled but yet to attend classes in Phase 4, their applications will be automatically extended to Phase 5 and need not re-apply.  Applicants may also change their original course choices to meet their training needs. 

For more details of the Special Scheme 5, course lists and application guidelines, please visit the dedicated website (www.erb.org/scheme) or call the ERB hotline 182 182 for any enquiries.