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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on Low-income Working Family Allowance today (May 26):
Reporter: (On Low-income Working Family Allowance) Is there room to further lower the minimum working hours?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We have considered the matter very carefully. And in fact, we have taken a pragmatic and compassionate approach, striking a balance. On one hand, trying to be caring and taking account of the reality of the situation. On the other hand, we have got to be mindful that the philosophy behind the whole thing is to encourage and promote employment. So, the work hours are particularly important in the whole process. And also, we have got to have regard to the likely impact on the labour market as well. If the work hours are too low, then it may discourage employment. So, we have got to strike a very delicate balance here, and I think we have got the right balance.
Reporter: Any timeline so far? When do you expect the scheme to be implemented?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Provided the Finance Committee of Legislative Council approves our application for funding before the summer recess; the last meeting of the Finance Committee will be on July 11. We are aiming at approaching Finance Committee on July 4. If our bid for funding is approved, we can roll out the scheme by October next year. And in fact, the whole scheme will operate on a backdating basis. In other words, a successful applicant will get the allowance backdated to the first month that the scheme will kick off.
(Supplemented after a question in Chinese.)
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We are talking about a win-win recipe here - promoting employment, promoting self-reliance, at the same time tackling inter-generational poverty, by helping those families with children, particularly those working class families who are really facing low pay, long working hours and also the burden of children to look after.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, May 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 13:44
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