Government Defends Deductions Under Welfare Scheme
"); jQuery("#212 h3").html("
"); jQuery(document).ready(function() { jwplayer.key='EKOtdBrvhiKxeOU807UIF56TaHWapYjKnFiG7ipl3gw='; var playerInstance = jwplayer("jquery_jwplayer_1"); playerInstance.setup({ file: "http://newsstatic.rthk.hk/audios/mfile_1440060_1_20190126121920.mp3", skin: { url: location.href.split('/', 4).join('/') + '/jwplayer/skin/rthk/five.css', name: 'five' }, hlshtml: true, width: "100%", height: 30, wmode: 'transparent', primary: navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Trident")>-1 ? "flash" : "html5", events: { onPlay: function(event) { dcsMultiTrack('DCS.dcsuri', 'http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1440060-20190126.mp3', 'WT.ti', ' Audio at newsfeed', 'WT.cg_n', '#rthknews', 'WT.cg_s', 'Multimedia','WT.es','http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1440060-20190126.htm', 'DCS.dcsqry', '' ); } } }); }); });
2019-01-26 HKT 12:19
Share this story
The administration on Saturday defended a welfare arrangement that penalises those who don’t participate in a scheme to help able-bodied recipients find work.
Under the self-reliance scheme, those who collect Comprehensive Social Security Assistance payments are required to meet a social worker every two months to help them find a job.
Failing to do so will see HK$200 deducted from their monthly CSSA payments.
The scheme has always applied to welfare recipients aged between 15 and 59, but will now also apply to those aged 60 to 64, after the lower age limit for elderly CSSA recipients was raised to 65.
Critics say the requirements and deductions are mean, and uncaring.
But Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung has defended the scheme, saying the arrangement has always been there.
He said the deduction aims to encourage recipients to find jobs in a “humane and considerate” way. He added the government would also be encouraging employers to hire people aged 60 to 64.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Law Chi-kwong, also defended the scheme. He described the requirements under the scheme as minimal, and the deduction as “nominal and symbolic”.
Is Hong Kongs Default Life Insurance Choice A Wealth Drain?
Hong Kong is a city that takes financial security seriously, boasting one of the highest insurance penetration rates in... Read more
RedotPay Secures $107M Series B, Total Funding Hits $194M
RedotPay, a global stablecoin-based payment fintech, has closed a US$107 million Series B round, bringing its total cap... Read more
91% Of Hong Kong Merchants Lose Revenue To Payment Friction
Aspire has released its Hong Kong Ecommerce Pulse Check 2025, highlighting that while mid-sized ecommerce merchants rem... Read more
Do Kwon Faces Possible Trial In Korea After US Conviction
Do Kwon, the crypto tycoon behind the 2022 collapse of TerraUSD and Luna, caused an estimated US$40 billion in investor... Read more
Startale, SBI Holdings To Develop Japans Regulated Yen Stablecoin
Startale Group and SBI Holdings have signed a MoU to jointly develop and launch a fully regulated Japanese yen-denomina... Read more
KakaoBank Expands In Indonesia Through Superbank Partnership
KakaoBank, South Korea’s largest internet-only bank, is accelerating its global expansion through a deepened partners... Read more