Employees Retraining Scheme eligibility criteria will be relaxed from December 1 to cover people aged 15 to 29 or those with a sub-degree or below qualification.

The Labour & Welfare Bureau said today the relaxation will be funded by the Employees Retraining Levy collected from employers of foreign domestic helpers. The Employees Retraining Board will also increase the number of training courses and places, strengthen content and assure course quality.

Training places are expected to rise by 50% in 2008-09 to 150,000 a year and to 200,000 in 2009-10.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung said with the relaxation, youths and the jobless will be provided with training and retraining opportunities to better equip themselves for jobs.

The first batch of new courses designed for the expanded groups is expected to be launched in the second quarter next year.

Mr Cheung said a strategic review on the retraining board's future role and responsibilities is being undertaken with a view to offering more comprehensive and diversified training and retraining for the local workforce.