Low-income local staff members, the self-employed, and business operators who are facing difficulties will receive a one-time MOP 10,000 subsidy starting 26 November, said the Finance Services Bureau’s (DSF).
The subsidy will be eligible to local staff – permanent and non-permanent residents – who had an income lower than MOP 144,000 last year, stressing that those who had resigned, were laid off, put on part-time or unpaid leave in 2020 will also benefit from the measure.
Employees who are not registered on the system can apply for the subsidy by providing evidence showing that they worked for a company in 2020. They can also receive the subsidy after the bureau approves the application. The statement underlined that the application must be handed in by 15 December, along with their proof of income and employment contract.
Those who are self-employed, such as taxi drivers, street venders, tour guides, fisherfolk and “water taxi drivers” *, are eligible for the MOP 10,000 subsidy as well. The other group are people who have declared their status of self-employment on their tax form and have reported zero profit in 2020. This group will be able to receive at least MOP 10,000 per person and up to MOP 200,000 under certain conditions.
According to the statement, business operators who are facing financial difficulties and who reported zero profit can be eligible for a subsidy of at least MOP 10,000 – MOP 200,000.
However, the statement pointed out that some industries, such as gaming, finance and insurance as well as public utilities are not included in the subsidy plan.
Meanwhile, beneficiaries will not need to register their information as the government will transfer the subsidies directly to the eligible residents’ bank accounts used for the government’s annual cash handout.
The bureau said that in order to ease residents’ financial burden as soon as possible, it aims to give out all the subsidies within four working days.
Meanwhile, the bureau is launching a new “simple search system” today, while an “elaborate search system” will be launched next Tuesday for residents to look up information about the bureau’s services.
*Water taxis in Macao are motorised sampans normally used to transport local fisherfolk, as well as flower vendors from Zhuhai’s Wanzai, in the Inner Harbour. The peninsula has two sampan piers – both in the Inner Harbour – one near Praça de Ponte e Horta and the other next to the Ponte 16 casino-hotel.
