The Work Incentive Transport Subsidy (WITS) Scheme

The Work Incentive Transport Subsidy (WITS) Scheme has been revised from the claim month of January 2013. Details are as follows:

(1) Higher income and asset limits (details please refer to the full version of scheme)

(2) Options of application: either individual-based or household-based application

• Applicants of the same household can opt for:

(a) each applicant to be assessed individually; or

(b) all applicants to be assessed together as a household.

• Applicants meeting the personal income and asset limits for single-person households as well as other eligibility criteria can apply for WITS on an individual basis. Individual-based applicants may apply in July 2013 the earliest for subsidy from January to June 2013.
• Applicants can choose between individual or household assessment upon initial application or re-application every six to 12 months.
• Transitional arrangement: For applicants who are eligible under existing household-based application but wish to make individual-based application, they may qualify for WITS on household-based application for less than six months before January 2013. Under such circumstances, they are allowed to apply for subsidy on a household basis to cover the period immediately before their first individual-based applications, even if it falls short of six months.

(3) Application form

• Individual Application Form will be available from June 2013 onwards. Household-based applicants can continue to use the existing Household Application Form.

For the full version of The Work Incentive Transport Subsidy (WITS) Scheme, please visit:

http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/service/witss.htm

Community Care Fund – Financial Assistance for Ethnic Minorities for taking Language Examinations http://www.had.gov.hk/en/public_services/services_for_new_arrivals_from_the_mainland/ccf.htm Community Care Fund – Subsidy for non-school-attending Ethnic Minorities Participating in Language Courses. http://www.had.gov.hk/en/public_services/services_for_new_arrivals_from_the_mainland/subsidy.htm

Human Swine Influenza Vaccination Programme 

Since the arrival of the peak influenza season, the Government will provide a human swine influenza vaccination programme for five target groups. All Hong Kong residents belonging to the target groups may get free vaccination at public clinics, or at private doctors enrolled in Human Swine Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (HSIVSS) at a subsidized rate.

The target groups for human swine influenza vaccination include:

(a) children between the age of 6 months and less than 6 years

(b) elderly persons aged 65 years or above

(c) persons with chronic illnesses and pregnant women

(d) pig farmers and slaughterhouse workers

(e) healthcare workers

Under the Elderly Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (EVSS), a government subsidy of $130 is provided to the elderly aged 65 or above to receive seasonal influenza inoculation and a $ 190 subsidy for them to receive pneumococcal vaccinations from enrolled private doctors under the EVSS.

Besides, children aged between six months and less than six years with Hong Kong resident status are entitled to a government subsidy of $80 per dose of influenza vaccine administered by private doctors under the Childhood Influenza Vaccination Subsidy Scheme (CIVSS).

Enquiry Hotline:

Lists of doctors enrolled in the EVSS and CIVSS, addresses and telephone numbers of the clinics are available from the Centre for health protection. (websites: www.chp.gov.hk )

This programme is launched by the Centre for Health Protection.

Alert over high level of scarlet fever cases

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 20) urged members of the public to maintain vigilance against scarlet fever as the number of reported cases remains at a high level.

So far, there have been six institutional outbreaks in 2011, involving three kindergartens/child care centres, two primary schools and one residential special child care centre. A total of 22 persons were affected.

Scarlet fever is caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria and can be cured with appropriate antibiotics. This disease usually affects children under 10 years of age and presents as fever, sore throat and rash. The rash appears over the trunk and neck and spreads to the limbs, especially the armpits, elbows and groin. The illness is usually clinically mild but can be complicated by shock and heart and kidney diseases. Scarlet fever is transmitted through either the respiratory route or direct contact with infected respiratory secretions. People who are suspected to have scarlet fever should consult their doctors.

To prevent infection, members of the public are advised to:

• maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
• keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
• wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, e.g. after sneezing;
• cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly; and
• maintain good ventilation.

Monday, June 20, 2011 Issued at HKT 18:35

Source:

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health

www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/23359.html

DON’T LEAVE YOUR KIDS ALONE AT HOME

Have you or your friends ever think that leaving your kids alone at home is ok because:

• I need to go to work and no one could help for taking care of my child
• I am just going out quickly for few minutes to buy things
• My kid is sleeping and he/she will not wake up when I am out
• I had left him/her home alone before and nothing had happened
• My kid is a good kid and he/she can take care of himself/herself

Statistics showed that 993 child abuse cases were reported during January to December 2009 in which 102 cases involving children being neglected or being left unattended at home.  Leaving children unattended at home is very dangerous. Many children were reported getting injured from fire, fallen from heights or even killed by accidents due to parents and guardians’ ignorance.

According to the Offence Against The Person Ordinance (Cap 212) section 26, “Exposing child whereby life is endangered” and section 27, “Treatment and Neglect by Those in Charge of Child and Young Person”, leaving children unattended at home and neglecting the welfare of children are forms of child abuse. Parents and guardians may face criminal liability arising from negligence in care of up to 10 years imprisonment.

Don’t put your kids’ lives in danger; don’t leave them unattended at home.

If you are in need of childcare services, please contact the childcare centers subsidized by the Social Welfare Department. Details can be found at:

http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_family/sub_listofserv/id_childcares/

Reference: http://www.swd.gov.hk/vs/english/stat.html

Beware of Employment Traps! Big Investments ? Big Returns

? Be Careful if any company offers you a job with extraordinary generous commissions.

? Be Careful if any company offers you a job but asks you to pay for buying a great amount of their products/goods.

? Be Careful if the job requires you to pay a large sum of money to join the scheme and make profit through recruiting your friends, relatives and other as new members.

? Be Careful if the job involves hierarchical sharing of commission.

If you encounter any of the above situations, you may be fallen into the trap of pyramid selling.

Pyramid selling is a marketing trick of companies that try to make profit through the ways listed above. Victims of pyramid selling reported that they were persistently persuaded to borrow loans to buy products like wine, cosmetics and fragrance in prices relatively higher than the market prices. The victims were told they would be rewarded through commissions, and their careers in the business would advance. They were also convinced to ask friends and relatives to join the companies to earn commission. There was victim who even ended up with debts totaling HK$400,000.

You should refuse to accept the job if you have any query of falling into the trap of pyramid selling. You should: 

1. Be cautious if the job requires you to sign up forms/document written in a language that you don’t fully understand

2. Be cautious if the job requires you to pay money to buy their products or join their scheme

3. Be cautious if the job offers only little or no basic salary but high commission

4. Be cautious if the company asks you for interview that only focuses on persuading you to buy products or pay money. If you feel something fishy about the job, do not hesitate to leave the premises.

The following links of the Labour Department can help you review some other notorious job traps in Hong Kong and strengthen your job hunting skills.

http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/eip/BewareJobTrap.pdf

http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/eip/JobHunting.pdf