Starting next October, the Hong Kong government will require recipients of unemployment welfare from ages 15 to 59 to participate in at least one hour of weekly, unpaid work to reduce reliance on subsidies and promote social reintegration. 为了帮助失业人群尽快返回劳动市场，减少对政府失业补助的依赖，港府计划从2025年10月起试行“失业受助人士支援计划”，所有年龄在15至59岁之间、身体健全的领取失业综合社会保障援助（下称“综援”）的人士，必须且每周参与1次、每次至少1小时的无偿工作。
Hong Kong Secretary for Labor and Welfare Sun Yuk-han said the ultimate goal of the program is to help people secure suitable employment and eventually exit the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) program, which provides supplementary payments to residents whose income fails to meet basic needs. The new program will replace the employment support service, which has had on only 17.9% of its participants secure jobs or return to school since its 2020 launch. 根据港府规定，15至59岁的失业健全综援受助人必须接受社会福利署提供的“就业支持服务”，该服务由非政府机构提供，主要是鼓励和协助失业人士提升求职能力，通过密集辅导服务让他们尽快找到工作或重返主流教育。“就业支持服务”由社会福利署2020年4月推出，然而截至2024年9月30日，仅有17.9%的受助人找到工作或重返主流教育并持续3个月，显示该服务的成效有限。
If a CSSA recipient fails to participate in unpaid work, their CSSA benefits, including those for their family, will be suspended for seven days. Exemptions apply for those unable to work because of caregiving or education commitments.
The CSSA program, which offers monthly subsidies of up to HK$11,710 ($1,504) for a family of four, supports over 16,000 able-bodied adults. About 6,000 them are under the age of 50, with many facing low employability due to limited education and skills. 综援计划是港府为在经济上无法自给的人士提供的安全网，帮助他们应付生活上的基本需要。65岁以下的健全且成年的单身人士，如果资产不超过3.55万港元且每月从工作中所赚取的收入不超过2630港元或每月工作少于120小时，就可以获得每月2950港元的综援。如果是65岁以下且身体健全、有两名儿童的四口之家，资产不超过9.4万港元、每月收入不超过5260港元，就可以获得每月11710港元的综援。此外，还可以申请如幼儿交通费等各类特殊津贴。
Hong Kong’s unemployment rate stands at 3.1%, indicating plenty of job opportunities. A part-time restaurant server earns about HK$800 per day, making their monthly income easily exceed the threshold of HK$2,630 for CSSA eligibility. However, many individuals doing gig jobs receive cash payments, making it difficult for the government to track their income and employment status, leaving room for high-income earners to exploit CSSA benefits. 港府最新公布的劳动人口统计数字显示，2024年8月至10月的失业率仅有3.1%，本地劳工市场存在不少工作机会。以餐厅服务员为例，兼职一日的薪水约为800港元，以香港的平均工资水平计算，每月收入不超过2630港元属门槛极低。但是许多打“零工”、以现金结算收入，港府无法统计其实际收入和工作状况，存在高收入者亦领取综援的漏洞。
