The sixth round of the "Anti-epidemic Fund" distributed a subsidy of 10,000 yuan to cleaners and security guards, but some groups received a large number of complaints from frontline workers that they could not benefit.
The Hong Kong and Kowloon Federation of Labour Associations held a press conference today (31st), together with representatives of the Federation of AFL members, the Education Bureau, the Official Subsidy Private School Trade Union, the Hong Kong Building Management Employees Union, and frontline workers, urging the government to expand the scope of the subsidy as soon as possible. And simplify the application process to allow employees to apply by themselves.
The Hong Kong and Kowloon Federation of Labour Associations held a press conference today (31st), together with representatives of the Federation of AFL members, the Education Bureau, the Official Subsidy Private School Trade Union, the Hong Kong Building Management Employees Union, and frontline workers, urging the government to expand the scope of the subsidy as soon as possible. And simplify the application process to allow employees to apply by themselves.
(Screenshot of the press conference)
Regarding the measures taken by the sixth round of the "Anti-epidemic Fund" to support frontline cleaning and security staff, a monthly allowance of HK$2,000 was provided to some frontline staff for a period of 5 months, and a total of 10,000 yuan was distributed. , Since the government has selected individual workplaces to apply, and some eligible companies have refused to apply, many frontline cleaning and security personnel cannot benefit from the subsidy.
Nearly 90% of complaints allege that companies or corporations did not apply for anti-epidemic hardship allowances
From the 18th to the 30th of this month, the AFL set up a complaint platform for cleaning or security workers on the issue of anti-epidemic hardship allowances. A total of 1,564 complaints were received, among which 197 (12%) were workers engaged in environmental hygiene, and 12% were security workers. Accounted for 1,367 people (88%), most of their workplaces were commercial buildings, educational facilities and residences.
Among the complaint cases, nearly 1,357 people (87%) said that the company or corporation did not apply for the anti-epidemic hardship allowance, and nearly 40% (38%) pointed out that the reasons were "the company refused to apply" (38%), "the place of work" There are 481 people (31%) who are not eligible”, and 265 people (17%) who are “not in agreement between the company and the building”.
Unable to apply for allowance because the job title does not match the cleaning worker
Ms. Chen, who works as an outsourced cleaner in a government public hospital, pointed out that she is mainly responsible for ward cleaning, including sweeping, mopping and washing toilets. After the government launched the Anti-epidemic Fund, the company said they could not benefit. The attitude was negative, and the only reply was "I don't know". Later, the workers asked for help from the union, but the reply was that they could not apply because the job title was "General Service Worker".
Ms. Chen believes that she has been in charge of cleaning work in the past. "Because of the different names, it kills my chance to receive this allowance. I feel very reluctant." She also pointed out that the cleaning work of the ward has a high risk of infection, and there are many people around. Colleagues have all been diagnosed, and grass-roots workers generally do not pay attention to the job title when signing contracts, but only care about the salary, but now they are excluded from the anti-epidemic fund allowance because of the job title.
Another outsourced cleaner, Mr. Tan, who works in a subsidized school, pointed out that the company and the school shied their responsibilities and pointed out that the other party should apply to the government.
He believes that the application process is confusing and he has not been able to receive the subsidy. He urged the government to open up individual applications for security guards and cleaners. The school only needs to stamp the employment certificate, so that all outsourced cleaners can get the subsidy of 10,000 yuan as soon as possible. .
Ho Chi-ming, chairman of the Hong Kong Building Management Employees Union, said that many frontline employees face high risk of infection every day, but they are unable to receive allowances. Companies, corporations and outsourcers often shirk their responsibilities, resulting in grassroots employees suffering.
Sanwu Building has no representative to assist the application to urge the government to allow frontline workers to submit in their own name
Lin Zhensheng, chairman of the Federation of AFL, said that most of the reasons why companies did not take the initiative to apply for the anti-epidemic fund subsidy were that they did not know whether they were eligible or that they were too troublesome. He hoped that the government would contact various property management companies as soon as possible before the application deadline on April 30. They explained the eligibility criteria and encouraged companies to actively apply for their employees to ensure that the allowances could reach the employees.
Lin Zhensheng also pointed out that taking Sanwu Building as an example, because they have no owners' corporation, the ownership is scattered, there is no owner/resident organization and no property management company provides property management services, so the security and Cleaners should be able to apply for the Anti-epidemic Fund subsidy on their own. We urge the government to simplify the application process and allow all frontline cleaning and security service workers to submit applications in their own names.
AFL Chairman Lin Zhensheng (right) said that most of the reasons why the company did not apply for the anti-epidemic fund subsidy was that it was not clear whether it was eligible, or it was too much trouble. He hoped that the government would contact various property management companies as soon as possible before the application deadline on April 30. The company explained to them the eligibility for application and encouraged the company to actively apply for the employees to ensure that the allowances could reach the employees.
(Screenshot of the press conference)
Zhou Xiaosong, secretary-general of the AFL, also believes that the application process should be "double-tracked", so that workers can apply in their own names. One-time allowances can be claimed, such as airport porters and a small number of cleaners serving foreigners' rooms. It is suggested that even if the government increases spending, it should be extended to all security guards or cleaners to apply for allowances.
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