THE Shenzhen social insurance fund management administration has received applications from103,500 enterprises for subsidies to retain employees.

The first batch of employee retention subsidies amounting to325 million yuan (US$46.28 million) will be given to45,199 enterprises before the end of February.

To support enterprises through difficulties and work resumption amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the administration unveiled a package of measures including offering subsidies to retain workers, refunding unemployment insurance fees and increasing subsidies to employees who were diagnosed with COVID-19.

“On Feb.3, we received applications from3,000 enterprises for employee-retention subsidies,” Li Dong, vice chief of the administration, said Tuesday.

More than800 other enterprises have applied for unemployment insurance refunds, Li said. The refunds involved911 million yuan.

The first batch of unemployment insurance refunds, around570 million yuan in total, will be given out to133 enterprises before the end of this month.

“The subsidy is helpful for enterprises like Shenzhen Airlines, whose business and operations were affected by the outbreak,” He Tianhao, deputy manager of the airline’s Human Resources Department, said during an interview.

He estimated the company will receive112.5 million yuan in unemployment insurance refunds at the end of the month.

To ensure the refunds are given out efficiently, the fund administration simplified procedures and adopted online approvals, Li said.  (Han Ximin)