A Government spokesman said today (August 31), that applications for the second tranche of the Employment Support Scheme (ESS) are open today for two weeks. Up to 6pm today, nearly 52 000 applications from employers and over 2 000 applications from self-employed persons have been received. Among the employers' applications received today, 96 per cent of the employer applicants have successfully applied for the first tranche of the ESS.
The spokesman said, "We will expeditiously process all the applications received. Most eligible employers who have provided accurate and complete information are expected to receive wage subsidies in three to four weeks after submission of their application."
Upon completion of the processing of applications, the ESS Secretariat will inform successful applicants of the results via SMS and email. Applicants can log in to the ESS portal (www.ess.gov.hk) to check the amount of subsidy granted and the committed paid headcount for the months of September to November 2020.
Eligible employers and self-employed persons can submit online applications for the second tranche of wage subsidies through the ESS portal (www.ess.gov.hk) until 11.59pm on September 13 (Sunday).
The spokesman said, "Self-employed persons (SEPs) with 'MPF self-employed person' accounts which have not been terminated as of March 31 can also submit applications for the $7,500 one-off lump sum subsidy during the application period for the second tranche of the ESS if they have not received the subsidy in the first tranche."
Interested employers and self-employed persons are advised to visit the ESS portal to obtain detailed information including details of eligibility, application procedures, calculation of subsidies, terms and conditions, undertakings and more.
For enquiries, please send an email to enquiry@employmentsupport.hk or call the ESS hotline (1836 122). The service hours of the hotline are as follows.
| August 31 – September 9 | 9am to 6pm |
| September 10 – 12 | 9am to 8pm |
| September 13 | 9am to 0.30am of the following day |
Applicants who need assistance in completing their online applications may call the ESS hotline to make appointments with the following three ESS Help Desks during the application period.
• North Point Help Desk at Room 1701, A T Tower, 180 Electric Road, North Point;
• Kwun Tong Help Desk at Room 2507, Prosperity Center, 25 Chong Yip Street, Kwun Tong; and
• Tsuen Wan Help Desk at Room 1206, Chinachem Tsuen Wan Plaza, 455 Castle Peak Road – Tsuen Wan.
The service hours of the ESS Help Desks are as follows.
| August 31 – September 9 | 9am to 6pm |
| September 10 – 12 | 9am to 8pm |
| September 13 | 9am to 10pm |
The service hours of the ESS hotline and the Help Desks will remain in service from Monday to Friday (9am to 6pm) to answer enquiries beyond the application period.
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