Earn & Learn Pilot Scheme for Retail Industry

• The total working hours for each student-worker should not be more than 117 hours per month;

• To schedule a workplace roster of 3 days per week to allow the student-workers to acquire work experience and at the same time attend class at the Vocational Training Council (VTC) 3 days per week;

• The arrangements of Annual Leave and Statutory Holiday should be provided in accordance with the Employment Ordinance;

• If the student-workers drop out from the Diploma programme or being de-registered by VTC, the participating employers have the right to terminate the contract;

• Any other benefits or terms provided in accordance with the company's policy and governed by the laws of the HKSAR.

Tuition fee

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• Participating company is required to sponsor each student-worker's tuition fee of HKD$1,300 per month (applicable to Diploma of Foundation Studies) or HKD$2,900 per month (applicable to Higher Diploma). The amount is paid directly from participating company to the VTC every semester. The tuition fee is non-refundable if the student withdraws from the Scheme amidst the semester

Recruitment of Students

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• To recruit Secondary 6 school leavers to join the Scheme, a recruitment day will be arranged at VTC’s campuses at the DSE Result Announcement Day. VTC and participating retailers will arrange walk-in interviews with interested candidates. Participating company is required to arrange staff to conduct interviews with candidates. The recruitment procedures are as follows:

  • VTC assesses the candidate's qualifications.

  • VTC distributes the participating company list to candidate.

  • Candidate selects interested participating company.

  • Participating company conducts interview with candidate and confirm offer.

  • VTC register for the admitted candidate and arrange payment of registration fee.

• Participating company is required to conduct interview and select their candidate on their own. Otherwise, participating company will not be assigned any candidate.

Responsibilities of Employers

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• To maintain close communications with VTC on the learning and working progress of the participating student-workers;

• To provide standardized practical working and learning objectives for the student-workers in the workplace;

• To provide a mentor to train, give feedback and assess the performance of the student-workers at the workplace;

• The Government will offer each student-worker with satisfactory attendance in class and workplace (80% respectively) an allowance of an average of $2,000. For this purpose, participating companies have to keep and retain attendance record of student-workers at workplace. Company may require to provide the attendance record upon request when necessary;

• To inform VTC in writing within 7 days if any student-workers resign from the Scheme or being terminated due to breach of the employment contract.

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Arrangement for graduates

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• Upon graduation, if participating employers continue to employ the graduates, participating employers have to offer the graduate of Diploma of Foundation Studies a monthly salary inclusive of commission and allowances of no less than HKD$11,000. For graduates of Higher Diploma, the monthly salary inclusive of commission and allowances should not less than HKD$13,000, and to offer clear career progression pathways for the graduated student-worker.