Dr NG Tat-lun, SBS, JP
 | Since its establishment in 1992, the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) has always been flexible and market-driven in the development and delivery of training programmes and services for the local workforce. Over the years, ERB training programmes have offered altogether some 1.5 million training places. In line with the Government's decision to relax the eligibility criteria for enrolment in our training programmes in October 2007, the ERB reviewed and revised its market positioning in mid-2008. Our mission is to promote the "Manpower Development Scheme" to foster the sustainable development of our trainees and help them map out their progression ladders. The repositioned ERB now offers over 800 different training courses. While we are stepping up our efforts to develop new programmes, we are concurrently reviewing our existing programmes with a view to continuous improvements. This will ensure that our programmes satisfy the changing market demand, cater for the diverse needs of our trainees, and assist them to acquire job skills and recognized qualifications. As the ERB's Chairman, I am committed to leading the ERB to scale new heights. We shall continue to be highly sensitive to the needs of our clients, trainees and employers inclusive. We are implementing a wide range of new measures to strengthen our services, including offering training courses under the Skills Upgrading Scheme Plus, setting up various Industry Consultative Networks, fostering our partnership with the industries, promoting the ERB Manpower Developer Award Scheme, expanding our network of training bodies, reinforcing the Smart Living job referral platform, pioneering the Enhanced Placement Service Model, establishing a network of ERB Service Centres, and strengthening our quality assurance work. We shall make sure that our resources are effectively deployed for the purpose of nurturing manpower development in Hong Kong. History has always been full of its share of economic ups and downs. In times of feast as well as famine, we always encourage our working people to capitalise on every opportunity to improve their employability and competitiveness by upgrading their knowledge and skills. On our part, the ERB will continue its all-out efforts to better equip our labour force with sound foundation for future career development. Our vision is to provide a flexible, quality and resilient labour force for Hong Kong's knowledge-based economy. We shall try our best to achieve this goal. |