**********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Family Council:
A total of 1,763 corporations, small and medium enterprises and organisations from different sectors were commended today (June 19) as "family-friendly employers" at the award presentation ceremony of the 2013/14 Family-Friendly Employers Award Scheme organised by the Family Council, with the support of the Home Affairs Bureau.
Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, the officiating guest, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, said the support and collaboration of employers were decisive in assisting employees to balance their responsibilities at work and in families.
Mrs Lam said that some employers had instituted more diversified family-friendly practices apart from paternity leave and the five-day week. Those practices include flexible working locations, provision of child care and breastfeeding facilities in the workplace and establishment of scholarships for the children of employees. Some employers with innovative ideas had also implemented special holidays to allow flexible working hours according to their employees' needs, so that they can attend parents' days held by the schools of their children and take care of elderly family members.
She said she hoped the valuable experience of these employers in implementing family-friendly practices could enhance the public's awareness of the family-friendly spirit and encourage more employers to adopt family-friendly practices in the workplace, in order to develop positive family values.
Established in 2011, the biennial award scheme recognises employers who attach importance to the family-friendly spirit, encourages them to continue to put in place measures to raise employers' awareness of the importance of family core values, and aims to foster a pro-family culture and environment.
The award categories have been expanded to include not only "corporations" (for companies or firms with 100 or more employees in Hong Kong) and "small and medium enterprises" (for those with less than 100 employees in Hong Kong), but also "organisations" (for non-governmental organisations and social enterprises in Hong Kong). In regard to the awards, "special mentions" were given to companies which were awarded in 2013/14 and 2011 in recognition of their dedication to continuously promoting family-friendly policies and practices.
The award scheme has received overwhelming support. Among 1,814 companies/organisations enrolled, 12 per cent of the entries applied under the "corporations" category, 80 per cent applied under the "small and medium enterprises" category, while the remaining enrolled under the "organisations" category.
An assessment panel comprising experts and representatives from various sectors assessed the applications and selected the awardees with reference to criteria such as the company/organisation's family-friendly employment policies, practices, rationale, benefits to the employers and employees, as well as commitment of the company/organisation's management.
A total of 1,763 companies/organisations were recognised as "family-friendly employers". Among them, 91 companies/organisations were recognised as "distinguished family-friendly employers" for their outstanding achievements in implementing family-friendly employment policies and practices. In addition, 22 companies/organisations received "innovation awards" to acknowledge their flexible use of innovative ideas to implement family-friendly employment measures; another 313 companies were awarded "special mentions".
Also officiating at the ceremony today was the Chairman of the Family Council cum Convenor of the 2013/14 Family-Friendly Employers Award Scheme Organising Committee, Professor Daniel Shek. For the list of awardees and other details, please visit the website: www.familycouncil.gov.hk/2013_14family-friendlyemployers.
Ends/Thursday, June 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:53
NNNN
