Home > Press Releases > 2008 and Before > Relaxation of Eligibility Criteria for the Employees Retraining Scheme To commence on 1 December 2007

The Employees Retraining Board ("ERB") will start relaxing the eligibility criteria for the Employees Retraining Scheme (ERS) on 1 December 2007 to include those aged 15 or above, and with education attainment of sub-degree or below. The ERB will commit more resources in offering greater number and diversity of training places to tie in with the new measures, enhancing overall skills and employability of the work force.

Mr Michael Tien, Chairman of the ERB, welcomes the relaxation as well as the initiation of the drawing down of the Employees Retraining Levy by the ERB for the substantial development and advancement of the ERS..

He commented, "The ERB is entering into a new era with the taking on of a greater responsibility for the manpower development in Hong Kong. The ERB is currently conducting a strategic review with a view to upgrading its services and operation, defining its new roles, responsibilities and the direction of future development. The strategic review is expected to be completed by the end of this year and a report will be submitted by the Board to the Labour and Welfare Bureau for consideration."

In line with the relaxation, the ERB will take away the requirement of 2 years' work experience for admission and will increase the number of retraining places by about 10,000 for the current financial year (i.e. 2007-08), which constituted approximately 10% of the year's budgeted places. All of the additional training places will be allocated for full time placement-tied courses. It is the Board's intention to increase annual training places by 50% to 150,000 in 2008-09, mainly to satisfy new demand of the expanded target groups. For 2009-10, it is envisaged that the number of training places will be increased to 200,000 when the Board takes on skills enhancement and in-service training for individuals and enterprises of different trades.

Up to now, the ERB has been focusing its services on assisting the unemployed persons aged 30 or above with junior secondary education or below. In response to the decision of the Chief Executive-in-Council, the ERB will , starting from 1 December this year, accept enrolment of unemployed persons of the age 15 or above, as well as people with education attainment up to sub-degree level, as long as they are not subject to any condition of stay in Hong Kong.

With the expansion of the target clientele, the ERB will seek to partner with more training bodies in the gradual launching of greater variety of training courses. Retrainees will have a more diverse selection of courses and the Board can cater better to the career aspirations and placement needs of different individuals."

As to the permission of using the levy collected from the employers of foreign domestic helpers, Mr Michael Tien emphasized that the Board would continue to use the Employees Retraining Fund in a responsible and prudent manner, and that the funds would be used to the benefit of the local workforce that matches public expectation.

Should the media have any enquiry, please contact our Communications and External Affairs Section.

Issued by:　 Employees Retraining Board

Date:　　　 24 October 2007

Enquiries:　 Communications and External Affairs Section (Tel: 3129 1345)