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Relaxations to the Transport Support Scheme (TSS) administered by the Labour Department will take effect from tomorrow (July 2). Eligible job-seekers and low-income employees living in the districts of Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, North and Islands, can apply to join the scheme and claim for transport allowances through the designated service centres operated by non-government organisations (NGOs) as from tomorrow.
Head of the TSS Office of the Labour Department, Ms Betty Ng Shuk-fong said the objective of TSS was to provide a time-limited allowance as an incentive to encourage needy people in remote districts to find jobs and stay in employment. "TSS was originally scheduled for a review in June 2008. In response to the requests from the community for relaxing the Scheme's eligibility criteria to benefit more needy people, the Government advanced and completed the review in February," Ms Ng said.
"Three relaxation measures are to be introduced: (1) raising the monthly income ceiling from $5,600 to $6,500; (2) allowing eligible people working and living in the same district to apply for the allowance; and (3) extending the duration of subsidy period from six months to 12 months."
"Under the relaxed scheme, eligible applicants (residents of the four districts; having a personal asset value of no more than $44,000; if employed, having a monthly income of no more than $6,500 and working for no less than 72 hours a month), can claim two types of allowances - Job Search Allowance (up to $600) and On-the-job Transport Allowance ($600 per month, up to 12 months).
"To provide more convenient and efficient service to the public, the number of NGOs engaged to implement the relaxed scheme will be increased from 10 to 12, thereby expanding the network of service centres from the existing 27 to 33. Two of the new services centres will be located in Lamma Island and Peng Chau to offer service to residents of outlying islands," Ms Ng said.
Application forms can be obtained from the scheme's service centres and job centres of the Labour Department, or downloaded from the scheme¡¦s website (www.tss.labour.gov.hk). For enquiry, please call the scheme's hotline at 2123 9966.
Ends/Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:00
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