New courses offered by the ERB: Diversified choices and more generous allowances! Increase to $8,000 In the latest Policy Address, the Government announced that the monthly ceiling of the Employees Retraining Allowance (ERA) will be increased by nearly 40% from the existing $5,800 to $8,000. The Employees Retraining Board (ERB) provides 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. A guide for the over 50s: Update your CV, learn new skills and get back to work! Here are some tips to help middle-aged people aged 50 or above return to work: 🔹 Attend retraining courses: Make use 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 ex-colleagues, friends and family to let them know you are looking for job opportunities.
🔹 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 work that can help you re-enter the workforce and gain new experience.
🔹 Learn new skills: As technology advances, mastering new skills and tools (e.g., computer software, social media, etc.) can increase your competitiveness.
🔹 Seek career counseling: A career counseling professional can help you develop a job search strategy, provide interviewing skills and career planning advice.
🔹 Volunteer: 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 confident. Believe in yourself and your abilities. Community Resources｜Retraining Allowance Eligibility The following are the basic eligibility criteria for all training courses offered by the Employees Retraining Board (ERB):
🔹 Must be an eligible Hong Kong employee (i.e. legally residing in Hong Kong and free to take up employment, including permanent residents and new arrivals);
🔹 Must be aged 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 within one year and four applications within three years. Retraining Allowance｜Fees and Subsidies
"Employment-tied courses are free of charge for the unemployed.
On the other hand, Non-employment-tied Courses are fee-paying courses and the tuition fees are based on the tuition fees of the relevant courses as at the date of submission of the course application form;
🔹 Students with no income or with a monthly income of $14,000 or below may apply for fee waiver;
🔹 those with a monthly income of more than $14,000 may apply for fee subsidy;
🔹 Students with a monthly income between $14,001 and $22,000 are eligible for the Council's subsidy for most of the course fees and are required to pay the "Higher Subsidy Fee" specified for the course;
🔹 Trainees with a monthly income of more than $22,000 are required to pay the "normal subsidized tuition fee". Community Resources｜Retraining Subsidy Course Programmes Placement-tied courses are generally full-time vocational training courses covering a wide range of trades and industries, including finance and accounting, 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 course also includes training on personal qualities and job-seeking skills to strengthen trainees' interpersonal skills in the workplace and enhance their employment opportunities. Community Resources｜Retraining Allowance Enrollment Methods Applicants can enroll in person, by mail or online. Applicants enrolling by post or online are required to present the original copies of the required documents (including Hong Kong Identity Card, proof of academic qualifications, etc.) to the relevant training organization before the commencement of the course. 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) Community Resource Kit｜Retraining Allowance Enrolment Required Documents 🔹 Applicants are required to bring along the original copies of the following documents when enrolling in person at the training bodies of the relevant courses: 🔹 Hong Kong Eligible Employee Certificate (Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport) 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 (documentary proof of academic qualifications issued by the school or organization should be submitted in respect of the highest qualification); 🔹 signed consent form for submission of "proof of income"; proof of work/professional qualifications (if applicable). Community Resource Kit｜Retraining Allowance Rates and Calculation Methods The daily rates of allowance for all placement-tied courses of 7 days or above are as follows:
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