Anti-epidemic fund can’t help grassroots: SoCO

The Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) has on Sunday called on the authorities to directly deposit anti-epidemic subsidies into the bank accounts of those in need, saying its latest round of anti-epidemic fund will only benefit business owners.

The government earlier announced that it has earmarked HK$3.57 billion to help sectors affected by the latest round of Covid-19 restrictions, including restaurants, beauty parlours and fitness centres.

However, SoCO’s deputy director, Sze Lai-shan, said past experience shows that the funds will only go to the business owners – not the workers.

“Actually all of our clients said they received nothing [in the previous rounds of anti-epidemic funds]. They’re very disappointed or even angry,” she said.

“Because they need to stop their work, or they’re unemployed, so they don’t have money to pay for their rent and their daily meals.”

Sze urged the government to directly hand out the subsidies to those in need, saying it could also inject money into the “Rainbow Fund” – an emergency relief fund managed by the Community Chest.

In the longer run, she said officials should set up an unemployment fund to help those who’ve lost their jobs for up to six months.

Lucy – a single mother – was among a dozen workers who spoke of their plight at the press conference.

The part-time waitress said her lifeline was cut off after the government banned evening dine-in from January 7, with her employer telling her not to come in to work for the time being.

With barely any savings, Lucy said she resorted to borrowing money from her friends to pay for her daughter’s tutoring fees and rent.

Another woman, surnamed Cheung, said she could no longer work as a part-time domestic helper after the government suspended face-to-face classes, as she had to take care of her child at home.

“My husband works in the catering sector. He now basically works half days only because of the evening dining-in ban. We have to pay the rent, our kid’s tutoring fees, other living expenses and utilities. The financial pressure on us is really big. We hope the government can give us some help,” she said.