14 20.
Unmet social risks
32.
Social security in Hong Kong has already developed
very considerably in this decade. But there is still a
significant area of social risk uncovered in Hong Kong. Where
a person is sick, unemployed or retired from work, he can
expect an income only if he receives it as a result of his
previous employment-either directly (as an occupational
benefit) or indirectly (he has been able to save or make other
private provision e.g. through an insurance policy) or if
his circumstances are so difficult that he is entitled to
help through the public assistance scheme, the disability and old age
infirmity allowance scheme or the accident compensation
schemes. This may not be a worrying situation for those with
private means or a good employer: but it leaves a substantial
proportion of the work force who would be hard hit by
prolonged absence from work through sickness or unemployment
although the proposed improvements in the public assistance
scheme and the proposed incapacity allowance should offer some
relief.
Sickness, injury and death benefit scheme
33.
To meet these needs, it is suggested that the
Government should propose the establishment of a centrally
administered voluntary contributory sickness, injury and
death benefit scheme (in Chinese
). The scheme
would in general cover all employees so longas they wanted to
join: but not the self-employed, because of the difficulty of
checking whether or not a self-employed person was working.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.