Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council 香港聖公會福利協會’s Post

Together with my co-authors Nikos Argyris and Lars Peter Østerdal, I just published "Value-driven multidimensional welfare analysis: A dominance approach with application to comparisons of European populations" in European Journal of Operational Research (EJOR). We consider the problem of comparing multidimensional probability distributions and provide new results on multidimensional first-order (FOD) and second-order dominance (SOD) since our framework permits value judgements and enables robust social welfare comparisons. We also incorporate a measurement scale to gauge overall social welfare across populations with an application of our framework in a case study on social welfare across European countries. You can read more here:

Today Citizens Advice have published a new report on the Household Support Fund (HSF): https://lnkd.in/eeefseV7. Yesterday’s announcement that the fund will continue until the end of March 2025 is very welcome - but with this 5th extension, the time is right to accept the ongoing need for crisis support and develop a permanent fund. As it stands, the future of the fund past March 2025 is again uncertain. The HSF is a vital source of support for people facing hardship who have nowhere left to turn. It is funded by the central government and administered by English local authorities, and is intended to help those who can’t afford essentials like food, energy bills and water. It has existed in its current form since October 2021, and has been continually extended on a short term basis. At Citizens Advice, we are seeing record numbers of people coming to us for help with local welfare support compared to this time last year - driven by huge demand for the HSF. In the first 6 months of 2024, we had already supported over 50,000 people with localised social welfare issues – 17,200 more people than we helped over the first 6 months of last year, and twice as many people as in the first half of 2022. If these numbers continue to grow at the same pace, we can expect to help over 90,000 people with local welfare issues in 2024 - breaking last year's record, and breaking the previous year’s record for the 5th year in a row. We are calling on the government to use the 6-month extension of the current fund as an opportunity to design a new permanent fund, which takes into account the many lessons learned over the course of the HSF. 

Daily Sabah'ta son yayımlanan makalem: Present and Future Outlook of Türkiye's Welfare System Türkiye has revolutionized its welfare model within the last two decades and exponentially expanded investments in social protection. The petty negligible social protection model in the early 2000s has grown into a maturing welfare state in this process. With President Erdoğan’s social policies large segments of the society have improved their welfare and condition. From social work to social aid, from social security to health care, Türkiye has established its own welfare system, as a mixture of different aspects of diverse European welfare models. However, ensuring financial sustainability, preventing welfare dependency, and maturing experimental welfare programs, and restructuring them based on efficiency and effectiveness constitute Türkiye's most important social policy agendas for the next decade. The country is required to align its welfare model to changing social realities. Critically, the pay-as-you-go social security system awaits urgent reform. https://lnkd.in/giKF3ddH

Pleased to see ‘A Resource-Based Perspective on the Regulatory Welfare State: Social security in the United Kingdom’ reach over 1,000 full-text views since it’s publication 5 months ago in Regulation & Governance. In the article, Gary Lynch-Wood and I, in attempting to provide a new conceptual understanding of how the welfare state works, expose an operation to create resource demand pressures on claimants using regulation. What appears to be a mission to implement solutions to problems is, in many respects, creating new problems that require a fix. The article is available open access at this link: https://lnkd.in/er7_7srM ✌️

If the minimum welfare facilities required under the CWDM Regulations 2024 are not present at your site, here's what you should do: 1. Document the lack of required welfare facilities, including sanitary conveniences, washing facilities, drinking water, changing rooms, shelter area, and prayer room. Take photos and detailed notes for records. 2. Since the CWDM 2024 specifies that the client must provide these facilities, deliver the findings to the client in writing. Highlight the missing facilities and emphasize the legal obligation for the client to provide them. If you are working under a subcontractor, notify the main contractor as well. 3. Both the maincon and subcon are responsible for ensuring that the site complies with CWDM 2024 requirements, so they need to be informed to take corrective actions. 4. Collaborate with the client and main contractor to develop a plan to establish these welfare facilities as soon as possible. The plan should specify the types of facilities to be set up, the timeline, and responsible parties for installation and maintenance. 5. Inform workers about the plan and any interim arrangements to ensure their health and safety. For example, temporary portable toilets can be provided or handwashing stations until permanent facilities are installed. 6. If the client and main contractor fail to comply, escalate the issue to the relevant authorities. Notify DOSH, as they have the authority to enforce compliance with CWDM 2024. Failure to comply will result in: - Fines/Compounds - Imprisonment - Stop-Work Orders - License Suspension or Revocation.

"Beacons of Hope: The Spiritually Awakened in Human Welfare" explores the transformative power of spiritually conscious individuals working within the framework of welfare systems. The poetry delves into the profound impact these awakened souls have on societal well-being, emphasizing their role in infusing compassion, empathy, and a deeper understanding of human needs into the fabric of social welfare programs. By highlighting various scenarios in which the spiritual insights of these individuals guide their actions and decisions, the collection underscores the potential for holistic improvement in the lives of those served by welfare initiatives. The verses illustrate how spiritual awakening among welfare workers leads to more effective, heart-centered approaches to addressing poverty, inequality, and social injustice. Through their enlightened perspectives, these individuals not only provide material assistance but also offer emotional and spiritual support, fostering a sense of hope and empowerment among the most vulnerable populations. The poetry advocates for a paradigm shift in the way welfare systems operate, suggesting that the integration of spiritual consciousness can catalyze profound changes in societal structures, ultimately paving the way for a more compassionate and inclusive world. In essence, "Beacons of Hope: The Spiritually Awakened in Human Welfare" serves as a call to action for individuals in all walks of life to embark on a journey of spiritual awakening, recognizing that true societal transformation begins with the inner transformation of each person. By embodying the principles of love, kindness, and interconnectedness, those working within welfare systems can act as catalysts for widespread change, illuminating paths toward healing and flourishing for all.

Wishing our readers a Happy Independence Day 🇮🇳 Our 1st Article- 🌍 "Workfare or Welfare State?"  Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." This timeless proverb underscores the profound shift we need in addressing the challenges of our era. Our article delves into the vital balance between welfare and workfare approaches. We've examined case studies, explored innovative strategies, and highlighted the importance of education, training, and community support in fostering self-sufficiency. Read the full article at 👉 https://lnkd.in/dbytZtFq #WelfareState #Workfare #Empowerment #Sustainability #SocialImpact

The child welfare industry plays a critical role in our society, delivering essential services to those who need it most. However, as with any industry, there are challenges. Bureaucracy, dependency, stigma, and inequities all pose significant obstacles to the positive impact of child welfare services. It's crucial to balance the “positive impact” of these services with an acknowledgement of the harm that can be caused by misguided policies or practices. By addressing these challenges head-on, we can ensure that child welfare services continue to fulfill their important mission of protecting and promoting the well-being of our citizens. Let's work together to do away with a child welfare industry that punishes and puts profits over people. The future can be equitable, efficient, and effective for all. #ChildWelfare #SocialServices #Equity

Provision of Welfare Reform Reinforcing Gender and Racial Stereotypes One key provision of welfare reform that has been criticized for reinforcing gender and racial stereotypes is the imposition of work requirements on welfare recipients. This provision mandates that individuals receiving welfare benefits must engage in work-related activities to continue receiving assistance. While the intention behind this provision was to encourage self-sufficiency and reduce dependency on government aid, it has been argued that it perpetuates harmful stereotypes about certain groups, particularly women and people of color. Gender Stereotypes The work requirement provision can reinforce gender stereotypes by assuming that women on welfare are not already working or seeking employment. This assumption overlooks the fact that many women receiving welfare benefits are already engaged in unpaid caregiving work, such as taking care of children or elderly family members. By mandating additional work outside the home, this provision fails to recognize and value the labor that women perform within their families and communities. Furthermore, the work requirement may disproportionately affect single mothers, who make up a significant portion of welfare recipients. This can perpetuate the stereotype of the “welfare queen,” a derogatory term used to describe unmarried mothers who are perceived as lazy and exploiting the system. By imposing work requirements without considering individual circumstances, this provision reinforces the stereotype that women on welfare are unwilling to work or are solely responsible for their economic struggles. Racial Stereotypes In terms of racial stereotypes, the work requirement provision can disproportionately impact people of color who face systemic barriers to employment, such as discrimination in hiring practices and lack of access to quality education and training programs. By mandating work activities without addressing these underlying issues, the provision reinforces the stereotype that people of color are unemployed due to personal shortcomings rather than structural inequalities. Moreover, racialized perceptions of laziness and dependency can be exacerbated by the implementation of work requirements for welfare recipients. This can perpetuate harmful stereotypes about certain racial groups being inherently less motivated or capable than others, leading to further stigmatization and marginalization. Conclusion In conclusion, while welfare reform measures like work requirements aim to promote self-sufficiency and reduce government spending, they can inadvertently reinforce gender and racial stereotypes. By overlooking the unpaid labor performed by women and ignoring systemic barriers faced by people of color in the workforce, these provisions contribute to harmful narratives about certain groups being undeserving or incapable of economic independence.

Advice is the Key to Government Missions The Advice Services Alliance has published its asks of the new Government, arguing that access to free, independent, quality assured social welfare advice is crucial for rebuilding trust in public systems and a key to delivering the Government’s goals.  We are calling for advice to be given strong, cross-departmental support from the Government. Our key asks from the Government are: * Boost the funding for social welfare advice and legal aid. * Build social welfare advice into missions, priorities, and legislation. * Give the advice sector a seat at the table to improve welfare systems. https://lnkd.in/eDSJGipA