Hong Kong considers short-term subsidy for jobless residents

Hong Kong is exploring providing unemployed workers a short-term subsidy following calls from lawmakers and unionists to help relieve their burden amid a surging COVID-19 outbreak. 

The government is currently reviewing its stance on providing short-term relief for workers who lost their jobs in the pandemic, said Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po. 

Prior to this, the authorities had said that those who were unemployed could get help from existing social welfare schemes. 

“Everyone will be able to see the details when the sixth round of Anti-epidemic Fund measures is tabled at the Legislative Council later,” Chan told a radio programme, reports South China Morning Post. 

READ: Hong Kong mulls decision to provide short-term subsidy to jobless residents

He acknowledged that officials were “reviewing the views provided recently” by several lawmakers and unions. This includes Lawmaker Bill Tang Ka-piu, of the Federation of Trade Unions, who said that “the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme cannot solve unemployed people’s needs … You cannot ask the whole family to quit their job in order to be eligible for the allowance”.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam had announced that at least HK$20 billion (US$2.5 billion) would be allocated to the fund.