The Government published in the Gazette today (June 26) the Employees Retraining (Amendment) Bill 2026, which seeks to rename the Employees Retraining Board (ERB) as Upskill Hong Kong, expand its statutory functions and powers as necessary to enable the ERB to implement the remaining reform measures along the direction promulgated in the 2024 and 2025 Policy Addresses, and enhance its operational efficiency.
 
     A spokesman for the Labour and Welfare Bureau said, "Upskill Hong Kong, upon the upgrade, will continue to honour its commitment to serving local grassroots workers and those with lower skills or employability. It will also promote continuous learning and upskilling, and develop more advanced skill courses targeting members of the workforce with relatively higher educational attainment and skill levels to continuously enhance their productivity and competitiveness."
 
     The main provisions of the Bill include expanding the statutory functions and powers of the ERB upon its upgrade as Upskill Hong Kong, which encompass the formulation of a skill-based training framework, the provision of training and career-planning services having regard to the framework, and making provisions in respect of related financial matters; enhancing the composition of Upskill Hong Kong; streamlining the procedures to appoint training bodies; renaming the ERB, the Employees Retraining Fund and the Employees Retraining Levy; and introducing technical amendments to enhance operational efficiency.
 
     The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address the reform of the ERB and the vigorous strengthening of the training of local workers. The ERB would enhance its role and positioning from providing employment-related training for low-skilled workers in the past to devising skill-based training programmes and strategies for the entire workforce, thereby supporting Hong Kong's economic development. The ERB has, since January 2025, implemented a series of short-term reform measures to enhance its services. Some medium- to long-term reform measures can be fully implemented only after legislative amendments to the Employees Retraining Ordinance (Cap. 423).
 
     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first and second readings on July 8.

Ends/Friday, June 26, 2026
Issued at HKT 9:00

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