HK$200 cut in welfare payments for able-bodied but unemployed between age 60 and 64 is nominal, Hong Kong minister says
- Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong defends government in latest twist to controversial CSSA change requiring recipients to seek work
- He also says earlier remarks deemed insensitive were based on logic and not political
A HK$200 (US$25.50) monthly deduction in welfare payments for able-bodied unemployed people aged 60 to 64 is only a nominal penalty to encourage them to seek work, Hong Kong’s welfare minister has said.
In a bid to quell anger over another twist in a controversial policy change for the elderly, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong said only a small number of people would be affected.
“The so-called HK$200 deduction is just nominal,” Law said on two Saturday radio programmes. “You can imagine, most able-bodied people will try to seek work.”
His comments centred on the latest episode in a wider row between lawmakers and officials over an unpopular change in the age threshold for the elderly Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) scheme.
The change, which will take effect on February 1, means new applicants aged between 60 and 64, who are able-bodied, will get less in welfare payments compared with those 65 or older, and those who are disabled or of ill health.
You can imagine, most able-bodied people will try to seek work
Lam, who last week met her political allies in the legislature to mend fences over the row, extended an olive branch to the pan-democrats and would meet them on Monday at 3pm.