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The Social Welfare Department has so far allocated a total of $37 million to support 62 businesses of non-governmental organisations, creating more than 500 jobs for people with disabilities.
Speaking at the launching ceremony of the iBakery of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals today (October 5), the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said that the allocation was made under the Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise Project (3E's Project), which was set up in 2001 with a one-off grant of $50 million.
The 3E's Project supports NGO small enterprises with an aim to creating employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The number of employees with disabilities in each enterprise should not be less than 50% of the total number of employees.
Mr Cheung noted that $2 million was allocated to the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals earlier this year to start the iBakery business.
"I am glad to see that iBakery is not only a bakery, but also a café and a place to learn bread-baking. This provides comprehensive training and employment opportunities to people with different levels of disabilities. Among the 19 employees to be recruited after it comes into full operation, 11 of them will be disabled employees," he said.
Mr Cheung thanked the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals for actively developing social enterprises with a view to demonstrating to the public the potentials of the disabled and encouraging them to integrate into the community through employment.
The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals has set up five social enterprises so far, providing about 90 employment opportunities of which about 70 are for people with disabilities.
Ends/Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:10
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