Promoting a Happy Work Place for people with disabilities to demonstrate their talents (with photos)
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     The Government is committed to promoting the employment of persons with disabilities, providing them with equal work opportunities and encouraging them to build up self-reliance and integrate into the community, the Director of Social Welfare, Ms Carol Yip, said today (November 12).

     Ms Yip made the remarks while officiating at a ceremony for the Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise Project's (3E's Project) Happy Work Place voting-cum-appreciation programme for disabled employees and Let Them Shine Gala 2014.

     Ms Yip said, "To enhance the working ability and confidence of persons with disabilities, welfare organisations have been dedicated to operating social enterprises in order to create a cohesive, harmonious and happy workplace for persons with disabilities over the years. To extend our appreciation towards these welfare organisations, the Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) (MCOR) of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has organised Happy Work Place voting this year to thank them for assisting persons with disabilities to integrate into the community. We also take this opportunity to commend their efforts and contributions and hope that members of the public will thus gain a good understanding of the social enterprises funded by the 3E's Project and better recognise the working ability of persons with disabilities."

     Through running the 3E's Project, the SWD has helped to increase working opportunities for persons with disabilities by granting seed money to non-governmental organisations to set up small enterprises. So far, more than $72 million has been granted in total, providing sponsorship for some 89 different kinds of small businesses and creating more than 670 job opportunities for persons with disabilities.

     "The 3E's Project started in 2001 and this year we are launching a new logo to mark another milestone for the project along with further efforts to promote the working ability of persons with disabilities. We will also roll out a mobile app to assist members of the public in obtaining information on the social enterprises funded by the 3E's Project. A Happy Work Place booklet will also be published, through which readers will be able to gain further understanding of the workplace and its importance in their daily lives," Ms Yip said.

     She added that 13 rehabilitation organisations and social enterprises funded by the 3E¡¦s Project would set up exhibition booths at the Let Them Shine Gala 2014 this year, noting that this would mark the fifth consecutive year the event has been organised. She said she hoped that these exhibition booths would showcase an array of services and products offered by persons with disabilities.

     Starting today until December 24, the public can visit www.happyworkplace.hk for details of Happy Work Place voting, and choose at most five favourite Happy Work Places among the social enterprises funded under the 3E's Project. Participants will receive a social enterprise coupon after completion of voting.

     The Let Them Shine Gala is an annual territory-wide publicity event organised by the MCOR with the aim of demonstrating the diverse abilities of persons with disabilities, promoting equal working opportunities and facilitating the integration of this group into the community. Let Them Shine Gala 2014 exhibition booths will be set up between November 12 and 16 at Shatin Town Hall Plaza, during which Let Them Shine Got Talent street performances will also be staged by persons with disabilities.

Ends/Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:19

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