Policy Address
Love Upgrading Special Scheme for Retraining
136. Upon discussion with the Employees Retraining Board (ERB), the Government will further enhance its support to employees affected by the economic downturn. Immediately after the completion of the second tranche of the Love Upgrading Special Scheme at the end of this year, the ERB will launch the third tranche of the scheme in January next year, which will last for six months until mid-2021. The new tranche will double the 10 000 training places under the second tranche, enabling 20 000 trainees to receive retraining and an allowance during the training period. The scheme does not impose any academic qualification requirements on trainees and encourages them to participate in cross-industry training, with the aim of assisting them to rejoin the employment market as early as possible.
Matching of Manpower Resources
137. While the unemployment rate remains high, some sectors are facing staff shortages. As such, the LD will step up its efforts to enhance matching between employers and people seeking employment, strengthen its liaison with employers with recruitment needs, and organise more thematic job fairs to help job seekers secure employment. At the same time, we will encourage employers of sectors that face persistent manpower shortages, including those of the care sector, to participate in the ERB’s First-Hire-Then-Train Scheme. In view of the tight manpower situation of frontline care staff in residential care homes for the elderly, we will consider adjusting the training and working hour arrangements under the scheme to attract people to join the sector. We will also make arrangements for employers to join LD’s Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged so that they can apply for the on-the-job training allowance.
