District 18 News
Written by: Huang Jinghong
2021-01-26 21:01
Last update date: 2021-01-26 21:01
Under the epidemic, the new year is sad. The Federation of Trade Unions visited its members earlier and found that nearly one-third of the people were unemployed, on unpaid leave, and suspended from work. Nearly half of the respondents said it would be difficult to pay for the next three months. Daily expenses.
The chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions, Huang Guo, urged the government to refer to the "Ensure Employment" program launched last year and directly provide the unemployed with a monthly allowance of 9,000 yuan for six months.
A worker who has been unemployed for a year has only 3,000 yuan left in his account. Faced with the bill in front of him, he reluctantly asks, "Should I help you eat?"
The Federation of Trade Unions survey found that nearly one-third of the surveyed members are unemployed, on unpaid leave and suspended from work.
(Photo by Huang Jinghong)
From December 30 last year to January 5 this year, the Federation of Trade Unions interviewed more than 17,500 members in the form of online questionnaires to understand their employment situation, and announced the survey results today (26th).
The survey found that nearly one-third of the surveyed members are unemployed, taking unpaid leave and being suspended from work. Nearly half of the interviewees said that their savings will not cover the living expenses of the next three months, and about 16% of the interviewees The savings will be dry in a month, the situation is not optimistic.
The survey also shows that the epidemic has particularly affected citizens in the construction, catering, and retail industries. About 30% of the respondents in the above industries said they are unemployed.
Huang Guo, chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions, said that the new year is approaching, and the epidemic has not shown any signs of relief. The unemployed are even more hesitated at this time. He mentioned that the government's "guarantee employment" plan was completed in November last year. Support measures are unsustainable.
The government's latest unemployment rate is as high as 6.6%. It is seen that the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic is more serious than the SARS in 2003. He predicts that the unemployment rate in Hong Kong will have a chance to break the SARS record of 8.7%.
Huang Guo, chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions, said that "workers have run out of ammunition and food, so they need government help."
(Photo by Huang Jinghong)
Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions: Set unemployment assistance as a social consensus
Huang Guo continued to point out that the general public in Hong Kong have been fighting the new crown pneumonia for more than a year. "Workers are running out of ammunition and food, so they need help from the government." He urged the government to provide cash support to the unemployed as soon as possible, including the establishment of a total of 15 billion "emergency unemployment assistance." "Finance" provides each unemployed worker with a monthly allowance of 9,000 yuan for a period of six months, and relaxes the eligibility for unemployment CSSA to be applied to individual units, so that workers can spend the new year safely.
Huang Kuo believes that the government "has 80 billion yuan to ensure employment", and should "use special measures during special periods" and introduce more short-term measures to support the unemployed. It is a social consensus that the unemployed provide financial assistance, and the SAR government should seriously consider it.
The Federation of Trade Unions urged the authorities to establish an "emergency unemployment assistance fund" to provide each unemployed worker with a monthly allowance of 9,000 yuan for a period of six months.
(Photo by Huang Jinghong)
Unemployed one year worker Ping sister account only 3,000 yuan left
Sister Ping, who is engaged in restaurant sales, has been in the unemployed army for more than a year. He mentioned that she used to work in the restaurant for "long-term dissemination". Her working hours have been repeatedly reduced, and she has become even more unemployed during the epidemic. "The epidemic is over until the end of the epidemic, will you go back to (work) and start a meal?"
The 63-year-old sister Ping described herself as "there is no food, not enough to do it, and she is getting too old". She has been searching for work all year and she feels helpless at the current situation. I don’t feel at ease, and I’m shocked by everyone’s cross-infection. I can tell you the truth from my bank account. There are 3,000 mosquito degrees left. How many months will I have to spend?” After paying the rent and utility bills, Ping The elder sister asked herself, "Should I make a meal?"
63-year-old sister Ping has been unemployed for more than a year and has only 3,000 yuan left in her household registration. She admits that she can hardly handle daily expenses.
(Photo by Huang Jinghong)
Another Ms. Lian, who is engaged in the management of the apparel industry, has been hoping to change jobs to make ends meet since she was laid off by her old employer for 17 years in 2018.
Until 2020, Ms. Lian successfully enrolled in the Retraining Board course and finally found a job in a barber shop. Unfortunately, the good times did not often occur. During the epidemic, the shop business declined and she was reluctantly dismissed after two months of work.
Ms. Lian could only continue to work hard to find a job as a financial telesalesperson. Just as she was preparing to flex her muscles, she failed to find a business and was forced to leave her job two days later.
She recalled that one time she called another company to promote sales, but the other party said that she could not protect herself, "Sorry, my company will be closed next month." She felt helpless.
Hard to find a job and no way to study
Ms. Lian wanted to continue to enroll in the "Special and Value-Added Love" courses offered by the Employees Retraining Board, but because the upper limit of the courses had been reached, she could not apply for more courses. Under the circumstances, it is a problem even for women to pay basic fees such as water, electricity, and coal. "There is urgent pressure and insomnia."
She most hopes that the government will provide them with unemployment support to alleviate their urgent needs.
Ms. Lian used to work in the management of the apparel industry and has been unable to find an ideal job after being laid off in 2018.
(Photo by Huang Jinghong)
Urge the authorities to create temporary clean posts
Leung Ziying, deputy director of the Vocational Training and Employment Promotion Committee of the Federation of Trade Unions, pointed out that unemployment assistance and job training are important methods to support the unemployed. However, he pointed out that there is a maximum enrollment limit for the "Special · Value-added" course. The two "special plans" can enroll up to four courses in total. If it seems that even women have reached the upper limit, they will not be able to continue their studies. He urged the authorities to relax the enrolment restrictions and allow the unemployed to enroll in more courses.
Leung Ziying continued to point out that trainees can receive a maximum allowance of RMB 5,800 after completing the course. However, due to the number of class hours, most of the courses cannot be paid in full. He pointed out that most of the trainees want to "five for themselves, don't want to apply for CSSA." However, the allowance cannot meet the monthly living expenses." In addition, it takes more than three weeks to obtain the allowance application. He suggested that the authorities increase the training autonomy allowance to 9,000 yuan and pay half of the allowance after the course is over. The remaining amount will be released after the review process is completed.
In addition, Leung Ziying also suggested that the government create more temporary jobs, such as providing simple training for the unemployed, so that they can engage in urban cleaning work, or go to overcrowded country parks to clean up the mountains, and even in the future vaccination plan. The venue provides services.
One-person households, 80% of respondents from grassroots households, unemployed yoga instructors moved from hotels to sub-districts
Unemployment rate｜Social Association advocates setting a maximum of 16,000 unemployment assistance for half a year
New crown pneumonia | Chen Jiaqiang expects that the unemployment figures in Hong Kong will be worse, appeals to the Hong Kong government to help the hard-hit industries
01Community
The Federation of Trade Unions Unemployment Rate Guaranteed Employment Program Covid-19
