In the latest Policy Address, the Government announced that the monthly ceiling of the Employees Retraining Allowance (ERA) would be raised by nearly 40% from the existing $5,800 to $8,000. The Employees Retraining Board (ERB) offers about 700 training courses covering 28 industries and suitable for different groups, including young people, women, people aged 50 or above and ethnic minorities. All placement-tied courses lasting seven days or more are eligible for retraining allowance, while the unemployed are entitled to free tuition.
Here are some tips to help middle-aged people over 50 get back to work:
🔹 Attend retraining courses: Take advantage of the courses offered by the ERB to upgrade or update your skills. These courses cover a wide range of trades and industries and are subsidized and free of charge for the unemployed.
🔹 Networking and Connections: Attend industry-related events, seminars or workshops to expand your network. Keep in touch with former coworkers, friends and family to let them know you're looking for a job opportunity.
🔹 Update your resume: Make sure your resume information is up-to-date and emphasizes your experience and skills. Consider hiring a professional to help you optimize this information.
🔹 Flexible employment options: consider part-time, temporary, or freelance jobs that can help you re-enter the workforce and gain new experience.
🔹 LEARN NEW SKILLS: With the advancement of technology, mastering some new techniques and tools (e.g. computer software, social media, etc.) can increase your competitiveness.
🔹 Seek Career Counseling: A career counseling specialist can help you develop a job search strategy, provide interviewing skills and career planning advice.
🔹 VOLUNTEERING: Participating in volunteering not only helps others, but also expands your network and demonstrates your passion and ability to work.
🔹 Stay Positive: The job search process can be challenging, but it's important to stay positive and have self-confidence. Believe in your values and abilities.
The following are the basic eligibility criteria for all training courses offered by the Employees Retraining Board:
🔹 Must be an eligible Hong Kong employee (i.e. lawfully residing in Hong Kong and freely employable, including permanent residents and new arrivals);
🔹 Age must be 15 or above;
🔹 Academic qualifications at sub-degree level or below;
🔹 Eligible for admission to individual courses; applicants for placement-tied courses must be unemployed, non-engaged or drop-outs;
🔹 Maximum of two applications in one year and four applications in three years.
"The placement-tied courses are free of charge for the unemployed.
On the other hand, "non-placement-tied courses" are fee-paying courses and the tuition fee amount will be based on the tuition fee standard of the relevant course as at the date of submission of the course application form;
🔹 Trainees with no income or with a monthly income of $14,000 or below may apply for exemption from payment of fees;
🔹 Those with a monthly income of more than $14,000 may apply for fee assistance;
🔹 Students with a monthly income between $14,001 and $22,000 will be eligible for the Council's subsidy for most of the course fees, subject to the payment of the "Higher Subsidy Fee" specified for the course;
🔹 Students with a monthly income of more than $22,000 are required to pay the "General Subsidy Tuition Fee".
"Placement-tied courses are generally full-time vocational education covering a wide range of trades and industries, including finance, insurance, tourism, beauty care, household services, etc. They are tailor-made for the unemployed and aim to equip eligible trainees with skills that are in demand in the market. The training providers will provide trainees with an 80% attendance rate with job placement follow-up services for three to six months to help them return to the labour market. The courses also include training on personal qualities and job-seeking skills to strengthen trainees' interpersonal skills in the workplace and enhance their employment opportunities.
Applicants may enroll in person, by post or online. Applicants enrolling by post or online are required to produce the original copies of the required documents (including Hong Kong Identity Card, proof of academic qualifications, etc.) to the training bodies concerned before the commencement of the courses. Applicants who wish to enroll in a course on-line may go to the ERB's training course search website and search for the corresponding course directly for enrollment. If applicants choose to enroll in the courses in person, they should bring along the original copies of the required documents to the training bodies concerned and fill in the course application forms. Each applicant can enroll in a maximum of 2 placement-tied courses in a year, but not at the same time. For details of the Scheme, please visit the dedicated website ( www.erb.org/onestop).
Applicants are required to bring along the original copies of the following documents when enrolling in person at the training institution of the course concerned:
🔹 Proof of Hong Kong Eligible Employee (Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport;
(🔹 or Hong Kong Identity Card, together with a visa identity letter or travel document);
🔹 Proof of academic qualifications (a documentary proof of academic qualifications issued by the school or organization should be submitted for the highest academic qualification);
🔹 Signed consent form for submission of "proof of income"; proof of employment/professional qualifications (if applicable).
The daily rates of allowance for all placement-tied courses of seven days or more are set out below:
The ERB has further launched a new "Training and Employment Through Trainers Scheme" (TOTS), which combines the support of "pre-employment training", "job placement" and "on-the-job training" for a period of two years. Under the scheme, training bodies will assist participating employers in conducting recruitment exercises and organize pre-employment training courses in the form of "corporate chartered classes", while eligible trainees will be granted a retraining allowance upon completion of pre-employment training. Employers will also sign employment contracts with the recruited trainees, which will take effect upon completion of the pre-employment training courses.
For more information on ERB's courses and services, please visit the ERB's website ( www.erb.org) or call the ERB hotline at 182 182.
If you would like to know more about the above community information, please feel free to contact the above organizations. If you want to know the latest social welfare information in Hong Kong, please remember to follow us closely or if you have any questions or need any assistance, please feel free to leave a message to us and we will try our best to answer your questions and provide you with appropriate assistance.
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