Home > Press Releases > 2021 > ERB Annual Award Presentation Ceremony 2020-21 - Forge ahead Together with joyousness

The Employees Retraining Board (ERB) organised the ERB Annual Award Presentation Ceremony 2020-21 today (6 March 2021) at the Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai to commend ERB trainees on their ambition for self-enhancement, and stakeholders on supporting trainees to ride out adversity and develop career.  Officiating guests included Dr. Law Chi-kwong, GBS, JP, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr. Yu Pang-chun, SBS, JP, Chairman of ERB, Professor Simon Wong Kit-lung, JP, Vice-chairman of ERB and Mr. Byron Ng Kwok-keung, BBS, Executive Director of ERB.

Addressing the ceremony, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr. Law said that Hong Kong has undergone social incidents and the global outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the past year or so, thereby hard-hitting the local economy and labour market.  He thanked ERB for playing an active role in launching three phases of the “Love Upgrading Special Scheme” to provide training opportunities and allowance in supporting employees affected by the economic downturn.  He added that the Government has invited ERB to launch phase 4 of the “Love Upgrading Special Scheme” in July this year, allowing another 20,000 trainees to receive training.  The Government also looked forward to continue working hand in hand with ERB and all stakeholders to assist local employees to equip themselves to overcome challenges posed by the unstable labour market.

The ERB Chairman Mr. Yu said in his opening remarks that the flagging economy is battering every sector and industry and the employment environment is deteriorating.  ERB chooses to steer changes and pledges to take up more important role and missions.  Three phases of the "Love Upgrading Special Scheme" have been launched in a row, assisting those unemployed or under-employed to upgrade their skills for self-enhancement in a bid to re-enter the employment market as early as possible.  So far, more than 120,000 people have enrolled in the courses under the scheme which is proved to be effective in meeting the needs of the general public.

Mr. Yu commended the trainee awardees for their courage in braving the storm, training bodies and instructors for their unfailing support to ERB, and employers for caring about their staff and offering employment opportunities to ERB trainees in difficult times.  Mr. Yu also expressed his gratitude to the trust and financial support of the Government to ERB.

This year, a total of 114 awards were presented to 43 employers, 21 training bodies, 13 instructors and 20 ERB trainees.

For the trainee awards, 8 and 12 trainees received the "ERB Outstanding Award for Trainees" and the "ERB Merit Award for Trainees" respectively.  They include a young trainee who works as a Chinese medicine dispenser after finishing the related ERB course and is now pursuing a degree programme; a plumber and electrician turns to become a restaurant owner after completing the ERB bartender training course; a “Post-50” nature lover embarks on a new career path after graduating from the ERB arboricultural management course and finds the purposes of his work; a lady with disabilities strives to complete the clown performer training and shares her story with other people to encourage them not to give up.  Through the ERB training courses, all awardees have acquired new skill sets, obtained recognised qualifications and opened up unlimited possibilities in their lives.

As regards the employer awards, a total of 43 establishments were recognised for their active support to the work of ERB in 2019-20.  These employers offer employment opportunities to the ERB graduate trainees, provide on-the-job training and career development opportunities to the newly recruited, assist in promoting ERB courses and services, and help social groups with special needs in employment.

Please refer to the Chinese press release for the awardee lists and information of the “ERB Outstanding Award for Trainees” awardees.