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LCQ11: Employment of students with disabilities
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     Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, to a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah on employment of students of disabilities in the Legislative Council today (November 12):

Question:

     Regarding the employment of students with disabilities and those with special educational needs upon their graduation, will the Government inform this Council whether:

(1) it knows the number and percentage of such persons employed within the first year after graduation over the past three years, the main types of occupations in which they are engaged and their present unemployment rate;

(2) it has new measures to facilitate or encourage the employment of such persons by various government departments as well as public and private organisations; if so, of the details of the measures; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) it has reviewed if sufficient training courses and employment support are currently provided to such persons; if it has, of the review results; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

(1) The Education Bureau (EDB) conducts an annual survey on the situation of special school students after leaving their schools.  According to the survey findings, a vast majority of these school leavers would receive vocational training, vocational rehabilitation and day training or care services, etc. in the first year after leaving their schools.  Some would continue their studies, and only a small number of them would join the open market for employment in the first year of leaving their schools.  The relevant information on the school leavers in the past three years as provided by the special schools is summarised below:

School year      2004/05     2005/06     2006/07
-----------      -------     -------     -------

Post-School             Number of persons
Arrangement                (Percentage)
-----------             -----------------

Employment         12           21          16
                 (2.4%)       (3.7%)      (3.1%)

Others#           489          540         501
                (97.6%)      (96.3%)     (96.9%)

# Including vocational training, vocational rehabilitation and day training, care services and further studies, etc.

The above figures are provided by special schools (excluding hospital schools and schools for social development).

The survey on the 2007/08 school year is expected to be completed by the end of 2008.

As regards the occupations in which the school leavers are engaged and their present unemployment rate, EDB does not have such information.

(2) In addition to the Government¡¦s efforts, we need the active support of all sectors of society, including the business sector, social welfare sector and local communities to promote the employment of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

     On the Government¡¦s part, we have been proactively encouraging government departments, government subvented organisations (GSOs) and statutory bodies (SBs) to employ PWDs.  As the largest employer in Hong Kong, the Government all along welcomes applications from PWDs for both civil service and non-civil service posts and is committed to placing them in appropriate jobs in the Government so as to facilitate their integration into the community.  A candidate with disability who meets the entry requirements for the post concerned will not be subject to any shortlisting criteria and will be automatically invited to attend the selection interview.  He/she will be given an appropriate degree of preference for appointment if found suitable for employment.  Over the years, the percentage of civil service employees with disabilities has consistently remained at more than 2% of the total civil service strength.  We will continue to strengthen the understanding of our policy on the employment of PWDs among government departments and to encourage peer acceptance of colleagues with disabilities in the Government.

     As regards GSOs and SBs, we have all along requested all government bureaux and departments to encourage the public bodies and subvented organisations under their policy purview to adopt a host of measures to further promote the employment of PWDs.  These measures include setting up indicators for the employment of PWDs on a voluntary basis; formulating policies and procedures regarding the employment of PWDs by drawing reference to those for the civil service; and publishing the numbers of employees with disabilities in their annual reports.

     On publicity and promotional efforts, the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee have identified ¡§Promotion of Employment for PWDs¡¨ as the major theme of their public education programmes in the coming year.  A series of new initiatives have been implemented to enhance public understanding of the working capabilities of PWDs and the support services provided by government departments and rehabilitation agencies for the employment of PWDs with a view to enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration among the business sector, local communities, government departments and non-government organisations (NGOs) in promoting the employment of PWDs, thereby supporting the self-reliance of PWDs and their full integration into the community.  These initiatives include:

(a) encouraging social welfare agencies to take the lead in supporting and promoting the employment of PWDs through visits, regular meetings and correspondence, and discussion with agency managements on specific follow-up measures such as setting up indicators for the employment of PWDs on a voluntary basis and formulating policies regarding the employment of PWDs;

(b) visiting the 18 District Councils (DCs) to brief them on various services available for the employment of PWDs and to establish continuous collaborative relationship with the DCs in organising relevant activities.  This will help to engage the local communities in supporting the employment of PWDs;

(c) organising activities, such as seminars and visits, jointly with chambers of commerce, professional bodies and rehabilitation agencies to introduce to the business community various support services available for employers to recruit employees with disabilities, as well as products and services from PWDs.  This will help to demonstrate PWDs¡¦ working capabilities and to address the concerns of employers in employing PWDs;

(d) setting up a dedicated website by the end of the year to consolidate relevant information on the employment of PWDs provided by various government departments and organisations.  It will serve as an one-stop resource platform for employers, PWDs and those who are interested in procuring the products and using the services of PWDs;

(e) subsidising community organisations in organising a variety of public education activities under the theme of ¡§Promotion of Employment for PWDs¡¨ to enhance public understanding of the working capabilities of PWDs.  This will help to secure public support for self-reliance of PWDs and encourage PWDs to join hands with other members of the community to contribute to the society; and

(f) promoting the relevant message through a series of activities launched by the Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) (MCO(R)) of the Social Welfare Department, including television and radio announcements of public interest (APIs) and a drama script-writing competition etc.  The MCO(R) will also organise seminars and fairs to promote the services and products of PWDs and to deepen public understanding and acceptance of PWDs.

     The above initiatives have generally received positive response from social welfare agencies, DCs and the business sector.  For instance, more and more social welfare agencies have shown their support by setting up indicators for the employment of PWDs and formulating policies and procedures in this regard.  Many DCs have planned to organise promotional activities relating to the employment of PWDs.  The Organising Committee of the International Day of Disabled Persons has adopted ¡§Promotion of Employment for PWDs¡¨ as the theme of this year¡¦s event and will, in collaboration with the 18 DCs, give commendations to the ¡§caring employers¡¨ of the 18 districts who support the employment of PWDs.  A number of business corporations have also responded promptly by offering jobs to PWDs with the assistance of relevant government departments and rehabilitation agencies and by making wider use of the products and services from PWDs.  This shows that our efforts have started to bear fruit.

(3) Given the ever changing economic and social environment of Hong Kong, able-bodied people and PWDs alike have to keep abreast with changing market demand by acquiring various vocational skills so as to enhance their working capabilities and update their knowledge.  The Government reviews from time to time whether training courses and employment support for PWDs are adequate and appropriate to their needs.

     For instance, apart from full-time courses, the Skill Centres of the Vocational Training Council (VTC) also offer part-time evening courses for a duration of one year and special tailor-made short courses in flexible attendance mode to meet the specific needs of PWDs.  These programmes are reviewed every year for updating and changes where appropriate, with input from relevant government departments, NGOs, special schools and experts from different industries who are on the Committee on Vocational Training for People with Disabilities of VTC.  For example, programmes on desktop publishing, webpage design, logistics services, workplace English and Western bakery and pastry etc. have been added or updated in the light of the demand of the employment market and the aspirations of PWDs.

     To promote open employment of PWDs and to enhance public understanding of their working capabilities, the Selective Placement Division (SPD) of the Labour Department (LD) regularly organises various public education and publicity activities, such as holding seminars, producing APIs on the successful employment of PWDs, printing booklets and leaflets, and making visits to employers of specific trades to explore suitable job opportunities etc.  The placement officers of the SPD will also keep a close watch on developments in the job market and actively approach employers to encourage them to provide suitable places for PWDs.

     The above services have proved effective in helping PWDs secure employment.  For instance, in 2007, the SPD of LD had provided employment service to a total of 3 666 job seekers with disabilities.  Among them, 2 169 secured employment, representing a success rate of 71.4%.

Ends/Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:45

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