Firms urged to step up fight on poverty

(The Standard P.8  30 May 2013) Businesses should do more than just donate money to help reduce poverty (脫貧), a pro-government think-tank (智庫) says. 

 

The Bauhinia Foundation Research Centre (智經研究中心) said companies could take concrete steps (採取具體的措施) such as providing vocational training (職業訓練)for underprivileged youths and offering scholarships (獎學金) to talented youngsters. 

 

It released (發表) a report detailing nine major policy recommendations for the business sector (商界).
 

Center vice chairman Lau Ming-wai said companies should use their strengths (力量) - such as extensive (廣泛的) social networks - to play a bigger role in combating poverty.

 

"The best way is to create a sustainable (可持續的)win- win situation where businesses and individuals (個體) can both benefit," Lau said.

The center examined 1,000 projects being done by commercial organizations of various sizes and sectors to help the poor. 

 

Most of the proposals, however, require the government to take the lead. "Companies are good at running their business. We lack knowledge and information to help the poor," Lau said. "In fact, businessmen cannot do better than the government to combat poverty (滅貧)."

 

He also said the business sector could not be blamed (被指責) for the wealth gap (貧富懸殊). "I believe polarization of wealth is largely a result of economic restructuring that has taken place in recent decades."

The report proposes more vocational education and training for youngsters from low- income families. Internships (實習)  and work experience is also encouraged and help for startups and self- employed workers.

In addition, businesses may consider offering scholarships and living allowances to talented youngsters to build positive values and mutual support (互相支持)between employees and employers.

 

Lau is not worried that small and medium enterprises (中小企業) would be under pressure. " SMEs are proactive(主動) to play a part in alleviating poverty (扶貧)."

 

Candy Chan