In view of the drastic developments of the fifth wave of the epidemic, the Government has launched the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund to provide immediate financial relief to the businesses and individuals affected by the tightened social distancing measures. Amongst those, in order to support the frontline property management (PM) workers performing duties relating to environmental hygiene or security to strengthen their capacity on personal and environmental hygiene, and to give recognition to their anti-epidemic efforts during this critical period, the Government has established the Anti-epidemic Support Scheme for Environmental Hygiene and Security Staff in Property Management Sector (ASPM) under the sixth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund. The Home Affairs Department has commissioned the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) to implement the ASPM, which will issue the application forms to the PM sector today (February 28).
The objective of the ASPM is to provide each frontline PM worker performing duties relating to environmental hygiene or security in private residential, composite (i.e. commercial cum residential), industrial and commercial (including shopping malls) building blocks a monthly allowance of $2,000 for five months (February to June 2022).
Frontline PM workers employed by PM companies (PMCs), deed of mutual covenant (DMC) managers or owners' corporations/organisations (OCs/OOs) must submit applications through their PMCs, DMC managers or OCs/OOs. PM workers engaged directly by the premises situated within eligible building blocks should also apply through the PMCs, DMC managers or OCs/OOs of the building blocks concerned. The quota of each eligible building block is a headcount of 100.
Taking into account the views of the PM sector, the scope of the eligible frontline PM workers under the ASPM has also been expanded to include frontline PM workers serving in eligible building blocks which do not have OCs or any form of residents' organisations, or do not engage PMCs (commonly known as "three-nil" buildings), in order to benefit more PM workers. Those PM workers serving "three-nil" buildings can make applications on an individual basis and are required to submit the Declaration of Confirmation of Service Provision by "three-nil" Building User.
The ASPM is expected to benefit more than 180 000 frontline PM workers serving in around 41 500 eligible building blocks.
The application form and the introduction of the ASPM have been uploaded to the dedicated website of the PMSA (aspm.pmsa.org.hk/).
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