LettersHong Kong wage subsidy scheme failing struggling businesses

Applicants have performed their duty in suspending their businesses. Now the government must do its part

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A number of Hong Kong businesses have closed down amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 7:00am, 19 Jan 2021Updated: 7:00am, 19 Jan 2021

To the ESS Secretariat,

The Cherdchai Hair and Beauty Centre submitted the online application for the two rounds of the Employment Support Scheme. You have approved only two out of our six staff, and while your initial rejection was understandable, your subsequent rejection of all four staff is totally unacceptable.

In particular, the founder of the business has been with the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) since December 2000, yet her application was rejected. You acknowledge after reference to the MPF provider that the staff payroll consists of six people, yet you have only compensated for two.

What is the point of having an appeals process if you do not consider the appeal, and continue to hide behind technicalities without properly investigating the circumstances and giving reasonable explanations?

Applicants have performed their duty in suspending their businesses. It is your duty to pay out the government subsidy so that employers are not forced to dismiss employees or close their business (“Hong Kong’s stricken businesses say red tape holding up much-needed help”, January 17).

Otherwise, to what good purpose should these businesses comply with government requests to suspend their activity? Please explain.

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Applicants have performed their duty in suspending their businesses. Now the government must do its part

Applicants have performed their duty in suspending their businesses. Now the government must do its part