New HK$45,000 job scheme expected to benefit single-parent families most

Hong Kong’s new cash incentives of up to HK$45,000 (US$5,740) to encourage welfare recipients to take up jobs are expected to benefit many single-parent families, lawmakers have said, while urging more flexible eligibility rules and stronger employment support.Legislators made the remarks on Tuesday as the government unveiled a three-year pilot scheme, funded by the Community Care Fund, set to launch on October 1. The programme aims to help welfare recipients achieve self-reliance through sustained employment.It targets families transitioning from the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) scheme to the Working Family Allowance (WFA) programme, offering up to HK$45,000 in cash incentives over three years: HK$10,000 in the first year, HK$15,000 in the second, and HK$20,000 in the third.The new scheme will offer up to HK$45,000 in cash incentives over three years. Photo: HandoutLawmaker Tang Ka-piu said single-parent families could benefit most, noting they faced significantly lower working-hour thresholds under the WFA. Applicants need only 36 hours of work per month to qualify for the basic tier, compared with 144-192 hours for general applicants.