Budget Speech

Support Employment

30. Following the allocation of funding to enhance the Love Upgrading Special Scheme run by the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) in last year's Budget, the ERB launched the third tranche of the scheme in January this year to provide training and allowance for 20 000 trainees affected by the economic situation.  The Government will ask the ERB to launch the fourth tranche of the scheme in July, which will last for six months until the end of this year, benefiting 20 000 trainees.  The ERB will continue to provide more training options under the scheme and more online courses for trainees to engage in distance learning during the epidemic.

31. Having regard to the advancement in technology and changes in learning mode, the Government plans to expand the scope of the Continuing Education Fund to include online courses to provide learners with more diversified ways of continuing learning.  At the same time, we will ensure effective supervision over the quality of courses and teaching.  The Government will consult the sector with a view to implementing the measure upon commencement of the new school term in September.

32. In 2020‑21, the Government created about 31 000 time- limited jobs in the public and private sectors through the AEF.  As at end-January, some 16 000 appointments were made.  I propose to further allocate $6.6 billion to create around 30 000 time-limited jobs for a period up to 12 months.