People with disabilities can realize their potentials and contribute to the success of organizations if they are given equal employment opportunities. Some employers who have hired persons with disabilities told us that they are often loyal, attentive, and committed. Some outstanding employees with disabilities have raised the overall working standard. Some other employers, however, may lack confidence, information and channels to hire persons with disabilities. In this email, some useful resources for employing staff with disabilities are outlined for your reference.
The government department offers pre-employment training programme to participating disabled job-seekers and financial incentives are paid to participating employers.
The Centres in Kwun Tong, Tuen Mun and Pokfulam provide comprehensive vocational training for people with disabilities to help them develop their potentials. It also arranges permanent and temporary placements with employers from public and private sectors for their student trainees.
Our "Equal Opportunities Diversity Project" promotes inclusion and diversity through weekly radio programmes featuring interviews on equal opportunities issues, as well as interesting segments on the languages, culture and life styles of ethnic minorities. The interviews are broadcast during the Chinese radio programme “Made in Hong Kong 李志剛” on every Wednesday from 2:00-2:30pm on RTHK Radio 2. (Please click here for the website)
The topic of multicultural diversity was discussed at our 9 April 2008 radio programme by representatives of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and HSBC, a recent winner of the Outstanding Partnership Project Award under the "Caring Company".
“Caring Company” is an award scheme organized by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service which encourages public and private employers to demonstrate caring spirit in our society. Employing staff with disabilities and assisting them to adapt to the working environment are one of the criteria for winning the award. Other criteria include:
- Encourage employees to provide volunteering services to the community;
- Provide an employee-friendly and gender sensitive environment for employees;
- Promote actively on environmental protection;
- Share business expertise with non-profit organizations; and
- Provide donation to non-profit organizations.