Enhancing Employability
73. Employment is an issue that has to be tackled by setting long-term strategies. Hong Kong's economic growth model has changed. The need for training and self-improvement is not just confined to low-skilled, low-educated and middle-aged workers. We need to turn our training policy into a long-term social investment. The Employees Retraining Scheme is now providing 100 000 training places a year with an annual expenditure of about $400 million. The accumulated employees retraining levy paid by the employers of foreign domestic helpers is some $3.5 billion. The levies collected will be used to fund a comprehensive expansion of training schemes under the Employees Retraining Board (ERB). This includes relaxing the age limit of eligible trainees (currently set at 30 or above) to cover people aged 15 or above, and relaxing the eligibility criteria from secondary three or below to cover those with an education level at sub-degree or below. In addition, the ERB will offer training programmes that are more diversified and geared towards market needs. The number of training places will increase by 50% to 150 000 by 2008-09, and to 200 000 by 2009-10.
74. The Government's effort to expand the training schemes requires support from enterprises. Enterprises have a duty to allow employees sufficient time for training. Employers can also take the initiative by providing training for employees.
75. The ERB is now conducting a strategic review to upgrade its services and operation. This will include tailor-made on-the-job training schemes and other support services to those with employment difficulties to help them find suitable jobs and reduce their reliance on welfare. The ERB will also work closely with the industrial and business sectors, in particular small and medium enterprises and social enterprises, to gain a better picture of their manpower and skill requirements and assist enterprises of different trades with human resources development and continued skills upgrading.
76. We will buttress the employment support for our young people by providing 3 000 three-year employment opportunities for those aged between 15 and 29.
77. We will examine how to rationalise, integrate and enhance the employment and training services currently provided by the Labour Department, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and the ERB. We will also launch a pilot scheme to trial the one-stop employment support mode and on-the-job training. We hope that the revamped service mode will more effectively help the unemployed.
