The supermarkets discount scheme in particular has been heavily criticised by figures in both pro-democracy and pro-establishment camps, saying it benefits employers and not workers. The critics also pointed out that the supermarket business has not been greatly affected during the pandemic, and some even increased their sales. Law told the program that the two big supermarket chains may not have been seriously affected by the pandemic but it was too complicated to put conditions on subsidies. Your job retention scheme is just aiming to make your employment figures look nicer, you are not helping workers," she said. He added that if the workers are subsidized but the employer is unable to operate, it won't stop job losses.

Source: The Standard August 20, 2020 04:41 UTC