CareER共融招聘展2024
CareER主辦
平等機會委員會主席林美秀女士致辭(只備英文版)
Walter (Mr Walter Tsui, CEO, CareER),
Reina (Ms Reina Cheng, Chairperson of Executive Committee, CareER),
Distinguished guests and friends,
Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to be here today at CareER’s annual flagship event. Let me begin by congratulating Walter and his team on putting together yet another successful edition of the Disability Inclusion Index Forum and Inclusive Recruitment Fair. By highlighting the talent of young people with disabilities and special educational needs, CareER has made substantial contributions to advancing equality and inclusion in Hong Kong. So, thank you for all the work you have done over the past 10 years in championing diversity, equality and inclusion.
I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate the organisations on receiving the Inclusive Employer Badge today. Your commitment to DEI has set a commendable example for others to follow, demonstrating that diversity and inclusion drive innovation and success. Indeed, the large turnout of corporate representatives this morning speaks for the tangible benefits that an inclusive workplace can bring to employers. As we heard earlier in the industry exchange sessions, an inclusive workplace is not only good for employees with disabilities. It also allows businesses and organisations as a whole to reap significant rewards and benefits in putting the DEI values into practice.
We at the EOC firmly believe that individuals with disabilities and special educational needs have much to contribute to the workplace and our society. A recent study of over 300 companies in the US found that companies that lead in disability inclusion are more profitable and productive than their industry peers. Our own research also tells us that many local employers want to hire individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, some are still reluctant to do so due to concerns about the resources required for providing accommodations for them and integrating them into the workplace. While most employers see hiring people with disabilities as the right thing to do, many do not see it as part of their talent strategy, or that the benefits will outweigh the expenses and risks involved.
So, how can we alleviate employers’ worries and remove the barriers to employment for individuals with different abilities and needs? The first step is raising awareness – about the unconscious bias that we may have, about the diverse abilities that people with disabilities possess, and above all, about the actual financial benefits of an inclusive work team. Such awareness is crucial for removing the barriers to the hiring process. It is also important for employers to learn about the measures for accommodating employees with disabilities, the resources and support available, as well as the keys for building an inclusive work environment, which is why we need organisations like CareER.
Beyond awareness-raising and training, we see that a key part of the solution lies in enhancing the accessibility of our city, and we believe that mainstreaming the concept of universal design is pivotal to achieving this goal. Emphasising equitable use, flexibility and intuitiveness, universal design encourages the creation of built environments, products and services that are useable by as many people as possible. When put into practice, this idea has the potential to significantly improve the work environment not just for individuals with disabilities but for all employees.
Take the automatic door as an example. For wheelchair users, automatic doors make the work environment more accessible and easier to navigate. At the same time, other employees can also benefit from having such facilities in the office, especially for times when they have to transport heavy goods or when their hands are occupied.
Last year, we released a guide on universal design for the catering sector to enhance public awareness of the concept and kick-start discussions on how its principles can be implemented in everyday settings. The guide showed that even the simplest adjustments, such as installing portable ramps at entrances, can make a big difference to the accessibility of the built environment. Earlier this year, we also launched the first-ever Universal Design Award Scheme to encourage stakeholders in different sectors to share best practices. Over 270 organisations have submitted applications for the award and we look forward to sharing the innovative solutions these organisations have implemented at the award ceremony next month.
Enhancing accessibility and advancing disability inclusion will not just benefit individual employees, companies and organisations. In fact, they are critical to the long-term development of Hong Kong. When we maximise the rich pool of talent we have on our doorstep, our city will become more vibrant, innovative, and competitive. We all have a role to play in ensuring that talent with disabilities and special educational needs have access to equal opportunities in the labour market and create an environment where they can fulfil their potential.
Before I conclude, I want to give a word of encouragement to the students, graduates, and young professionals here today. Each and every one of you possess unique talent and skills, and you are all capable of making substantial contributions in your respective fields. So, as you continue to develop your career, be confident in your own abilities and never hesitate to pursue your passions and dreams.
Thank you once again for inviting me here today. I look forward to continuing to work with you all to create a Hong Kong that provides equal opportunities for all.