The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) welcomes the Home Affairs Department’s announcement today to extend the application deadline for the Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Environmental Hygiene and Security Staff in Property Management Sector (the Scheme) to June 30 so as to offer property management companies (PMCs), Deeds of Mutual Covenant (DMC) Managers and owners’ organisations (OOs) more time to prepare and submit application for the subsidy for eligible frontline property management (PM) workers so that more workers will be benefitted.
PMSA Chairperson Mr Tony TSE said, “The original application deadline for the Scheme was April 30, which was extended to May 31 to accommodate the Enhanced Arrangement announced on April 29 in order to benefit more frontline PM workers providing cleansing and security services in eligible properties. The PMSA has already received over 17,000 applications covering over 180,000 workers, which has exceeded by far the number of applications received in the first round of the Scheme in 2020 (around 160,000 workers were benefitted back then). This reflects that the industry has a stronger demand for the subsidy in this round of the Scheme and we should tailor our services to support the practitioners in the industry.”
“I believe further extending the application deadline of the Scheme to June 30 will provide convenience for Applicants to compile documents and make arrangements for submitting application for eligible frontline PM workers. I would wish to appeal again for PMCs, DMC Managers and OOs, relevant cleansing and security service contractors as well as the responsible persons of premises of eligible properties to seize the opportunity to submit applications timely to the PMSA so that more frontline PM workers who have been standing at the forefront of fighting the virus can benefit and that their contributions to safeguarding public health would be recognised.”
The PMSA has already granted subsidy close to $600 million to almost 60,000 PM workers. Upon completion of all vetting work later, it is envisaged that substantially over 100,000 workers will ultimately be benefitted, possibly exceeding the number in the first round of the Scheme implemented in 2020 whereby 160,000 frontline PM workers were granted subsidies.
PMCs, DMC Managers and OOs may apply through the Scheme’s online application system (https://aspm.pmsa.org.hk/application/web-application) or download the application form indicating “Enhanced Arrangement” from the Scheme’s thematic website (https://aspm.pmsa.org.hk/) and submit by post or through drop box at the PMSA Office. If the application includes frontline PM workers employed by premises in a property, a Verification Form signed by both the concerned premises and the frontline PM workers has to be submitted. The Verification Form makes clear the responsibilities between the PMC/DMC Manager/OO as the Applicant and the concerned premises/frontline workers. A sample of the Verification Form can be downloaded from the Scheme’s thematic website.
This round of the Scheme aims to benefit frontline PM workers performing duties related to security or environmental hygiene in private residential, composite (commercial cum residential) buildings and industrial and commercial buildings. If the cleansing or security staff provide service in other venues such as hospitals, schools, the airport, construction sites, transportation or the recycling industry etc., they are not eligible under this Scheme. There would be separate arrangement under the Government’s Anti-epidemic Fund.
Under the first round of the Scheme implemented in 2020, the PMSA has disbursed over $1.1 billion in subsidies benefitting 160,000 frontline PM workers.
For more details of the Scheme, please visit the thematic website (https://aspm.pmsa.org.hk), or call 3696 1156 / 3696 1166 or email to aspm@pmsa.org.hk for enquiries.
Ends/Thursday, 26 May 2022
Issued at HKT 16:30
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