to work.

Social activists oppose the proposal, saying that rather than encouraging people to work, the move would only harm their livelihoods.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Director of Social Welfare Paul Tang Kwok-wai said he was concerned about the growing number of able-bodied people, especially youngsters, receiving welfare despite the economic recovery.

The unemployment rate leapt from 4.5 per cent at the end of 2000 to about 8 per cent in 2003, but it has been falling over the past two years and currently stands at 5.3 per cent.

'We will study whether these recipients should be supported for only a certain period of time. We know this is a controversial issue, but we have to ensure the good use of public resources,' Mr Tang said.

'This is also a complicated issue. With a family of four, for example, if we cut off the father's welfare money, he still can stay at home and rely on his wife and children's payments.

'We have to look at the issue carefully. Should we cut off their welfare in one go? One option is to reduce welfare payments gradually to offer people incentives to work.'

Mr Tang said the amount of money recipients were allowed to earn without incurring a welfare cut could also be increased to encourage people to work.

The latest figures show the number of unemployed people on CSSA jumped 113 per cent between the end of 2000 and November 2005, to 41,844. Cases of low-earning families jumped 176 per cent, to 18,025.

Nine per cent of unemployed welfare recipients are aged below 25, and five in six of them have received payments for at least a year.

This year the government is spending $18.6 billion on CSSA, with unemployed people and low earners taking up 14 and 8 per cent of the welfare budget.

The government has launched a series of measures in recent years to push welfare recipients to work. At present, unemployed recipients are required to attend job interviews and perform community work.

Last year, the authorities required single parents with a child aged between 12 and 14 to earn at least $1,430 a month, and work at least 32 hours a month, to continue to receive a $225 supplement.

Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung, legislator for the social welfare sector, said there were not enough jobs for the poor and the pay and working conditions for available jobs were too harsh. 'Until we resolve these two key issues, any measures to force welfare recipients to work will not be successful. They will only make the situation worse.'

Ho Hei-wah, director of the Society for Community Organisation, called the review outrageous. 'What do you want unemployed people to do after their welfare money is taken away? Are you asking them to rob other people?'

This article was first published in the South China Morning Post on January 3, 2006

Activity: Role play

Suggested roles:

Newsline Host: Trying to be objective, looking for loopholes in arguments,

knowledgeable, lots of questions prepared

Mr Chan: Officer from the Comprehensive Social Subsidy Scheme, who speaks for

government policies

Mr Lee: Legislator, who fights for the rights of the working class

Mrs Cheung: A welfare recipient (single parent with three children)

Ms Wong: An ordinary citizen and a tax payer

As stated in the newspaper article, 'whether these recipients should be supported for only a certain period of time ... is a controversial issue'. Based on the information given in the article, discuss whether a time limit should be imposed on people receiving CSSA who are able to work.

You may like to include the following in your discussion:

Should welfare recipients be forced to work?

Why or why not? And how?

Is a time limit needed?

Why or why not? And how?