【明報專訊】SINCE its introduction in 2001, the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) scheme has increasingly come to be regarded by most workers as an undesirable must. Indeed, the MPF has contributed to the deep-seated conflicts that breed public discontent. The authorities must not turn a blind eye to the scheme's problems. For instance, employers are currently allowed to use their contributions to the workers' MPF accounts to offset severance and long-service payments, thus enabling them to dismiss long-serving employees at little cost, which surely is against the spirit of the scheme.