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The following is issued on behalf of the Family Council:
The 2015/16 Family-Friendly Employers Award Scheme organised by the Home Affairs Bureau and the Family Council today (December 15) opened for enrolment from employers and nominations from the public.
The Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mrs Betty Fung, and the Chairman of the Family Council, Professor Daniel Shek, officiated at the launch ceremony today.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Fung said that the third Award Scheme has been included in the "Appreciate Hong Kong" Campaign, and is consistent with the theme of the Campaign. She pointed out that employers are encouraged to carry out family-friendly measures as a gesture of appreciation to employees for their hard work. She also said that those employees, who can strike a balance between their families and work owing to their employers' care and consideration, will be grateful to their employers and therefore more committed to work, and noted that the win-win situation achieved by mutual understanding between employers and employees can add value to Hong Kong. She urged employers across the territory to take part in the Award Scheme to implement measures that can help build a family-friendly society together.
The Awards for Breastfeeding Support 2015/16 have been added in the third Award Scheme to commend employers that provide suitable facilities in the workplace to support employees who are breastfeeding. Apart from companies and organisations, government bureaux and government departments are also welcome to participate in this new award.
Launched in 2011, the biennial Award Scheme recognises employers who attach importance to the family-friendly spirit, encourages them to continue to put in place measures to raise employers' awareness of the importance of family core values, and aims to foster a pro-family culture and environment.
The Award Scheme has received an encouraging response. A total of 1 112 companies enrolled in the first Award Scheme and 1 060 companies were commended. The number of participating companies and organisations increased to 1 814 in 2013/14, and 1 763 of them were awarded.
The Award Scheme has four categories, namely Corporations (for companies or firms with 100 or more employees in Hong Kong), Small and Medium Enterprises (for those with fewer than 100 employees in Hong Kong), Organisations (for non-governmental organisations and social enterprises in Hong Kong) and Government Bureaux/Government Departments. The latter can enrol for the Awards for Breastfeeding Support 2015/16 only.
An assessment panel comprising experts and representatives from various sectors will assess the applications and select the awardees with reference to criteria, such as family-friendly employment policies and practices (FFEPPs) adopted by employers, benefits of implementing FFEPPs to employers and employees, and the rationale behind the implementation of FFEPPs and management commitment. The awards include Distinguished Family-Friendly Employers 2015/16, Family-Friendly Employers 2015/16, the Awards for Innovation 2015/16 and the Awards for Breastfeeding Support 2015/16. In addition, Special Mention 2015/16 will be given to companies and organisations which have received the award of Family-Friendly Employers twice, and the newly added Special Mention 2015/16 (Gold) will be awarded to the companies and organisations which have been awarded three times.
The deadlines for nominations and employers' applications are March 14, 2016, and April 14, 2016, respectively. There is no restriction on the eligibility of nominators. The results will be announced in October 2016.
For application or more details, please visit the following website: www.familycouncil.gov.hk/2015_16family-friendlyemployers.
Ends/Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:36
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