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The Government is committed to encouraging the employment of persons with disabilities and enabling their self-reliance and integration into the community on the basis of equal working opportunities. The Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (December 1) held an award presentation ceremony for the Outstanding Disabled Employee and Let Them Shine Partner programmes, for which non-governmental organisations (NGOs) nominated their outstanding employees with disabilities for their excellent work performance. The ceremony also commended corporate partners for their contributions in employing persons with disabilities, and encouraged members of the public to show concern for groups in need and help promote corporate social responsibility to improve community integration.
A spokesman for the SWD said, "We are glad to learn that many employers from the corporate sector are recognising the working ability of persons with disabilities and are arranging appropriate working hours and positions for them. This in turn can build harmonious workplaces and assist persons with disabilities to achieve self-reliance and social integration. Meanwhile, employees with disabilities are acquiring vocational skills and integrating with society through vocational rehabilitation training, which enables them to join related industries and develop their potential."
At today's ceremony, awards were presented to nine Let Them Shine Partner businesses for their efforts in building a caring and harmonious workplace, and accepting and supporting persons with disabilities in sustainable employment. Nine persons with disabilities were also awarded as Outstanding Disabled Employees, thereby encouraging them to continue to develop their confidence, work dedication and self-reliance. Please refer to the Annex for the lists of awardees (Chinese only).
The spokesman added, "The SWD has been assisting persons with disabilities to join the job market through running the Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise Project. By granting seed money to NGOs to set up small enterprises, more than $92 million has been granted to provide sponsorship for some 102 small businesses of different kinds and creating more than 751 job opportunities in total for persons with disabilities."
The SWD also launched the Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities in June 2013 to provide employers of persons with disabilities with a one-off subsidy for each employee with disabilities for procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications. The programme seeks to assist employees with disabilities in discharging their duties in the workplace and enhance their work efficiency. The subsidy is capped at a maximum support level of $20,000 for each employee with disabilities, or a grant of up to $40,000 for a single assistive device and its essential accessories.
The officiating guests at today's ceremony were the Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Services), Mr Lam Ka-tai, and the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities, Mr Ivan Ho.
Ends/Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:10
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