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The Government will continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach in equipping persons with disabilities for employment and fully unleashing their potential, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said today (February 29).
Three pilot projects will be launched this year to further promote the employment of persons with disabilities as well as an inclusive culture for a more caring society.
Organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB), Mr Cheung officiated at the award presentation ceremony-cum-experience sharing session of the 2015-16 Talent-Wise Employment Charter and Inclusive Organisations Recognition Scheme today. The event aimed to give recognition to organisations for their efforts in introducing innovative measures to enhance the employment opportunities of persons with disabilities and to pay tribute to outstanding mentors. It also invited participating organisations and employees to share their experience in promoting the employment of persons with disabilities.
Today's event was one of the activities under the "Appreciate Hong Kong" Campaign to commend inclusive organisations for implementing the Charter.
The Scheme was launched by the LWB in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC), the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service in September 2013. The Scheme aims to mobilise the Government, the business sector, the public, subvented bodies and non-governmental organisations to make collective efforts to create more job and internship opportunities for persons with disabilities and provide a barrier-free workplace for them through a host of inclusive measures.
The Scheme has been well received by the community. In addressing the ceremony, Mr Cheung said, "I am pleased to learn that the Scheme has been receiving continued support from various sectors of the community. So far 509 organisations, including 114 small and medium enterprises, have joined the Scheme.
"We have been adopting a three-pronged approach to promote the employment of persons with disabilities, including providing occupational rehabilitation and training services, job-matching services in the open market and creating job opportunities by promoting the setting up of social enterprises," Mr Cheung said.
He said the Government would introduce three pilot schemes this year to further promote the employment of people with disabilities. These include raising the maximum level of disregarded earnings for recipients with disabilities under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme; providing an additional grant for eligible recipients of higher Disability Allowance who are in paid employment to employ carers; and strengthening the counselling and employment services offered by the Labour Department to job seekers with disabilities.
Also officiating at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Miss Annie Tam; the Chairman of the RAC, Mr Anthony Yeung; the Chairperson of the RAC Sub-committee on Employment, Mr Wilfred Wong; the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Mr Chua Hoi-wai; and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities, Mr Benny Cheung.
Mr Cheung and other officiating guests presented the Innovation Award for Inclusive Organisation and Outstanding Mentor Award for Inclusive Organisation at the ceremony. The Innovation Award for Inclusive Organisation recognises those organisations that introduce innovative measures to enhance the employment opportunities of persons with disabilities or establish new posts, create new jobs and re-engineer work processes for them. The Outstanding Mentor Award for Inclusive Organisation recognises the mentors of organisations who assist employees with disabilities in coping with difficulties at work and integrating them into the work team.
Video clips on real employment cases of the awardees were shown at the ceremony. Employer representatives and employees with disabilities also shared their experience in facilitating the employment of persons with disabilities. During the experience sharing session, an employee with disabilities thanked his employer for regarding him as a regular employee and helping him in planning his career. An ex-mentally ill person also shared how he was able to climb the career ladder to join the management of his organisation, and assist other employees with disabilities in facing difficulties and challenges with his hands-on experience.
A regularly updated list of organisations participating in the Scheme has been uploaded onto the dedicated website (www.lwb.gov.hk/charter_scheme/index_e.html). The LWB will continue to actively implement the Charter and will, making reference to the experience and the views of participating organisations and stakeholders, introduce enhancement measures as and when appropriate to effectively assist the employment of persons with disabilities.
Ends/Monday, February 29, 2016
Issued at HKT 18:49
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