Transcript of remarks by SLW on Employment Support Scheme
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Reporter: Mr Law, the Government is going to announce the fresh round of unemployment figures. If indeed the figures are worse or stabilise, would the government consider more help for those who actually lost their jobs?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: It is premature for me this morning to say anything about the unemployment figures (to be released this afternoon), but definitely we will be closely monitoring the unemployment situation. That is the basic purpose of having this Employment Support Scheme – to help employers keep their staff; so for those who might have been made redundant already without this support – to reduce such redundancy, to keep our people active in their employment. That is the main purpose of the Employment Support Scheme.
For the Government, definitely we have to look at the macro situation and see how the economy will develop in the coming days, and if there is any need for additional measures that the Government should take, then definitely the Government will seriously consider.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Issued at HKT 13:10
Issued at HKT 13:10
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