In response to your editorial 'Greater effort needed to stop welfare abuse' (July 15), an increase in the number of people abusing Comprehensive Social Security Assistance does not mean that all young parents of working age should be deprived of social benefits, especially if they have offspring.
Most recipients of social welfare are young and uneducated. They have to work very long hours to earn enough to raise their children. But who then stays at home to look after their children? One of the parents? Sorry, they have to work. How about a domestic helper? Sorry, too expensive.
To guarantee these children receive good care while their parents are at work, the government should consider granting allowances for hired
childcare, or for the children to go to day care or nursery school.
While it is true that the poor and low-skilled should be self-sufficient, this should not be an excuse for the government to shirk its responsibility to help them. Otherwise, tragedies like the suicide of three women in Tin Shui Wai earlier this month will strike again in deprived districts.
HARVEY CHEUNG, Shamshuipo