Retailers Take Large Chunk Of Wage Subsidies Again

Supermarket chains will continue to be among the top beneficiaries of the employment subsidy scheme, according to the latest data released by the government.

Millions are being given to the large retailers in wage subsidies, but critics note that their business has actually been boosted the pandemic, rather than harmed.

According to the latest figures released on Wednesday, the parent company of the Wellcome supermarket chain, Dairy Farm, is expected to be the top beneficiary, getting almost HK$400 million.

ParknShop comes second in this current batch, getting HK$162 million, and third-placed Watsons Retail receives HK$71 million.

The government said it has handled the majority of applications for the subsidy and is looking to complete the processing of around another 20,000 applications as soon as possible.

In total, HK$10.9 billion is being given to employers for the months of September to November, with the subsidies covering more than 450,000 workers.

Firms who avail of the subsidy can't sack employees, but some unions have complained that workers are still being forced to go on unpaid leave.

Wellcome and ParknShop announced million-dollar discount schemes last month after the government called on them to plough some of the benefits they are receiving back into society.

But those plans have come under fire from political parties and consumer activists, who say there is no way to determine the real benefits to consumers of the discount schemes.