The Government fully recognises and appreciates the frontline cleaning and security workers who have been carrying out their duties with dedication during the pandemic. Further to the announcement on March 19 on the extension of the scope of the subsidy to the relevant workers under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF 6.0) and upon review of the actual situation of the frontline cleaning and security workers in the transport sector, the Transport and Housing Bureau today (May 4) announced the further extension of the coverage of the subsidy to provide the same monthly allowance of $2,000 to the following frontline workers for a period of five months (from April to August 2022):
 
(i) Cleaning and security workers engaged by individual public transport operators (including the franchised bus operators, the MTR Corporation Limited, franchised and licensed ferry operators, Hong Kong Tramways Limited, green minibus operators and non-franchised bus operators) and their service contractors. It is estimated that around 5 000 persons could benefit; and

(ii) Cleaning and security workers employed by a company that is a licensee or franchisee of the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA), or a company that is a holder of an operating permit issued by the AA, or the contractors of the aforesaid companies (excluding those who have already benefited from the support for airport staff in targeted groups or the Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Environmental Hygiene and Security Staff in the Property Management Sector under AEF 6.0). It is estimated that around 6 000 persons could benefit.

     In the interest of convenience and efficiency, the frontline workers concerned will not be required to submit individual applications. The subsidy will be disbursed to the employees through the above companies on a monthly basis. The total estimated expenditure for the above measures is about $126 million. The Transport Department and the AA will soon be approaching the individual companies on the details of the arrangement.

Ends/Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Issued at HKT 17:58

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