Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Government announced today (June 9) that recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), recipients of the Old Age Allowance (OAA) (including OAA under the Guangdong (GD) Scheme and Fujian (FJ) Scheme), the Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) (including OALA under the GD Scheme and the FJ Scheme) and the Disability Allowance (DA) under the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme, as well as recipients of the Individual-based Work Incentive Transport Subsidy (I-WITS), will receive a one-off extra allowance starting from June 12. This is part of a series of relief measures announced in the 2020-21 Budget.

     A Government spokesman said that recipients who were eligible for the above social security payments on May 14, 2020 (the date the Legislative Council approved the Appropriation Bill 2020), will be eligible for the one-off extra allowance. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has been allocated $4,209 million for implementing the arrangements and will credit the payment to the designated bank accounts of the eligible recipients without the need to make an application.

     For CSSA recipients, the amount of the one-off extra allowance is equivalent to one month’s standard rate payable to different categories of recipients under the CSSA Scheme. Recipients of OAA (including OAA under the GD Scheme and the FJ Scheme), OALA (including OALA under the GD Scheme and the FJ Scheme) and DA will receive an additional one month’s allowance. The level of payment is as follows:
 

CSSA Scheme	Additional payment ($)
Category of recipients	Single person	Family member
Elderly person (able-bodied/different degree of disability)	3,715 – 6,315	3,495 – 5,790
Adult (able-bodied/different degree of disability)	2,615 – 6,315	1,875 – 5,790
Child (able-bodied/different degree of disability)	3,145 – 6,770	2,090 – 6,250
SSA Scheme
OAA	1,435
Normal OALA	2,770
Higher OALA	3,715
Normal DA	1,835
Higher DA	3,670

     The measure will benefit about 1.39 million eligible persons, including 320 000 CSSA recipients, 600 000 OALA recipients, 270 000 OAA recipients, 28 000 GD Scheme recipients, 9 000 FJ Scheme recipients and 150 000 DA recipients.

     For enquiries, recipients of social security payments may call the SWD hotline at 2343 2255 or contact the respective Social Security Field Unit.

     As for recipients eligible for the extra allowance under the I-WITS Scheme, it applies to those whose applications were made in the period from November 1, 2019, to May 14, 2020 (the date the Legislative Council approved the Appropriation Bill 2020), and eventually approved. The extra allowance is equal to the average monthly amount of approved months payable to the applicants in their I-WITS applications which were most recently submitted in the above period, and eventually approved. The amount varies from case to case and will be credited to the designated bank accounts of the eligible recipients. They are not required to make separate applications.

     The Working Family Allowance Office (WFAO) of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency has been allocated $16 million for the one-off extra allowance to recipients of I-WITS. It is estimated that the measure will benefit 27 000 I-WITS recipients.

     For enquiries, recipients of I-WITS may call the hotline of the WFAO at 2558 3000 or visit the WFAO’s enquiry counters at 9/F, 181 Hoi Bun Road, Kwun Tong, or visit the website of the WFAO (www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/wfao). read more

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 8) arrested a male staff member of an employment agency suspected of having applied false trade descriptions to employment agency services supplied, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Customs earlier received information alleging that an employment agency located in Ma On Shan had engaged in unfair trade practices in the provision of employment agency services. A male staff member of the company made a false claim to a customer on the application for employment of a foreign domestic helper, stating that the company had submitted the work application to the relevant government department, which was contrary to the fact.

     After an investigation, Customs officers yesterday arrested a 30-year-old man.

     Investigation is ongoing and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

     Customs reminds traders to comply with the requirements of the TDO and consumers to procure services at reputable shops.

     Under the TDO, any trader who applies a false trade description to a service supplied to a consumer commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violations of the TDO to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk). read more

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (June 9):        Reporter: Mrs Lam, yesterday Zhan… read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 9) that due to big wav… read more

     The Labour Department (LD) has launched a special programme, “Career Let’s Go”, for secondary school leavers who choose to enter the employment market. Through an array of diversified pre-employment training and employment services, the programme, lasting from June to August, aims to help school leavers obtain the latest employment information, plan for their careers and enhance their employability. The programme is expected to draw about 5 000 participants.

     An LD spokesperson said, “We have identified various job vacancies suitable for secondary school leavers, which they can browse in one go at the dedicated webpage of ‘Career Let’s Go’, and make applications according to their personal aspirations.”

     The dedicated webpage also provides details on different types of job fairs organised by the LD, including:

* Job fairs for young people under the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP). Some positions provide tailor-made pre-employment training, after which trainees will undergo salaried on-the-job training for six to 12 months;

* Recruitment days held at the LD’s job centres in different districts and industry-based recruitment centres. Job seekers can have on-the-spot job interviews with employers of various industries and thus save their time; and

* Large-scale job fairs, where a diversified range of job vacancies, many of which are suitable for secondary school leavers, are provided.

     “We encourage secondary school leavers opting to enter the employment market to join our YETP, which provides one-stop comprehensive pre-employment and on-the-job training. With no pre-set quota, the programme is free of charge, with allowances payable to trainees,” the spokesman said.

     The spokesman added, “To enhance the job interview skills of school leavers, help them unleash their potential at work and instill proper values in work ethics, the LD’s two youth employment resource centres, the Youth Employment Start (Y.E.S.) in Mong Kok and Kwai Fong, will also provide a series of training courses through the ‘Happy@Work’ programme.”
     
     The latest information of “Career Let’s Go” has been uploaded to its dedicated webpage (www.jobs.gov.hk/careerletsgo). Details of various events are also enclosed in the appendix. Enquiries can be made at the LD’s 24-hour hotline 2717 1771 which is handled by “1823”. read more