To address the current manpower shortage and groom a quality labour force for the retail industry, the Financial Secretary announced in his 2014-15 Budget an allocation of $130 million to support manpower development of the retail industry. One of the foremost initiatives is the launch of the Earn & Learn Pilot Scheme for Retail Industry which is jointly organized by the HKRMA and the Vocational Training Council (VTC).

The Scheme will help the retail industry:

• To recruit a pool of new blood
• To ease pressure of manpower shortage
• To lessen the training pressure as VTC will train student-workers according to a well devised curriculum
• To develop and retain a dedicated and trained workforce in the long run