Sacked Pacific Century CyberWorks (PCCW) staff could receive up to $30,000 each from the company's $40 million lay-off assistance fund.
But some unionists said the amount was insufficient to meet the short-term needs of the axed staff and demanded extra cash to beef up the fund.
Speaking after the second meeting of the fund's administrators yesterday, chairwoman Christine Fang Meng-sang said the fund would be divided into two parts, with $30 million for direct financial relief and the rest spent on retraining.
Priority will be given to five groups: the chronically ill, those whose spouses are also jobless, those who worked for PCCW and HKT for less than five years, workers over the age of 45 and the disabled.
Ms Fang said each applicant could receive up to $30,000 and she hoped to begin accepting applications next Monday.
The fund would not only cover the 858 PCCW workers who lost their jobs last month but also the 506 laid-off in December.
'We will hold further meetings as soon as possible to discuss the details on determining the assessment criteria,' she said.
