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The Director of Social Welfare, Mrs Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, today (October 9) encouraged employable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients and 'near CSSA' recipients at risk of falling into the CSSA net to take advantage of help to improve their job skills so they can move towards greater self-reliance.
She made the comment after officiating at the Kick-off Ceremony cum Cheque Presentation for the Intensive Employment Assistance Projects (IEAPs).
Mrs Lam also announced that the CSSA active caseload for September was 288,648, including 51,372 unemployment cases. That is a 0.4 per cent increase when compared with the active caseload figure for August.
"The easing of the growth rate of the CSSA caseload is not only the result of a decrease in new applications; it also shows the effectiveness of the intensified Support for Self-reliance measures. If we can encourage the return of employable CSSA recipients to the labour market, we can relieve the pressure on CSSA expenditure," she said.
Various sectors of the community are helping the Social Welfare Department (SWD) in its efforts to encourage self-reliance. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Lotteries Fund have allocated $200 million to commission non-governmental organisations as operating agencies to launch IEAPs.
With these funds, the operating agencies can provide tailor-made employment assistance services to CSSA and 'near CSSA' recipients to help them secure gainful employment. It is planned that the IEAPs will initiate 100 projects in three batches over a period of four years, helping about 27,000 people in the process.
Services rendered by the operating agencies to participants include Individualised Employment Assistance Services to enhance the employability of participants and their ability to sustain employment; and Temporary Financial Aid to tide them over financial hardship and help them meet short-term basic needs so that they do not fall into the CSSA net.
Operating agencies may also set up small businesses to provide participants with work opportunities. As a further boost to those striving for self-sufficiency, agencies will provide at least three months' post-placement support services for people who have secured full-time employment.
In the first batch launched today, 40 projects will be implemented from October 2003 to September 2006. The projects to be run by 33 non-governmental organisations, will benefit over 10,000 CSSA recipients and 4,000 'near CSSA' recipients. Outcome-based performance indicators will be used to monitor project effectiveness. The SWD will invite applications for the second and third batches at intervals next year.
Meanwhile, Mrs Lam thanked various sectors of the community, especially the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, which donated $100 million, for their generous support of the IEAPs.
Also present at today's ceremony were Mr Anthony Chow, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Social Security), Mrs Rachel Cartland; and representatives of operating agencies from 13 social welfare districts.
Ends/Thursday, October 9, 2003
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