TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1977
RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS
13 MORE TO BE BUILT NEXT DECADE
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THE FIRST OF A NEW SERIES OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS FOR THE DISABLED WILL BE SET UP BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT THIS AUTUMN.
THE WORKSHOP, LOCATED IN THE LEK YUEN ESTATE, WILL PROVIDE WORKING PLACES FOR 100 DISABLED PERSONS.
DISCLOSING THIS TODAY, MR. KHOO TAI-PIN, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT'S REHABILITATION DIVISION, SAID AT LEAST 13 SUCH WORKSHOPS WOULD BE PROVIDED ON A DISTRICT BASIS WITHIN THE NEXT TEN YEARS TO CREATE OVER 1,600 WORK PLACES.
+THEY ARE BEING PLANNED IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO SET UP MORE SHELTERED WORKSHOPS FOR THE DISABLED.
+THESE PLANS WILL BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY TO KEEP PACE WITH THE DEMAND AND TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY. +
SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, MR. KHOO EXPLAINED, ARE TO HELP THE DISABLED WHO ARE INCAPABLE OF COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT, TO MAKE FULL USE OF THEIR RESIDUAL CAPACITIES BY OFFERING THEM PRODUCTIVE AND REMUNERATIVE EMPLOYMENT IN A SHELTERED ENVIRONMENT.
AT PRESENT, SEVEN SUCH WORKSHOPS ARE BEING RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. THEY ABSORE ABOUT 600 DISABLED WORKERS WHO ARE EITHER BLIND, DEAF, EX-MENTAL PATIENTS, MENTALLY RETARDED OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED.
THEY ARE PRIMARILY ENGAGED IN ASSEMBLING WORK WHICH MAY BE PART-FINISHED, OR JUST PACKAGING. ALL MATERIALS ARE SUPPLIED BY THE MANUFACTURER. HARDLY ANY COST IS, THEREFORE, INVOLVED IN ADDITIONAL MATERIALS OR ANCILLARY FACILITIES, AND THUS MINIMISES THE NEED FOR CAPITAL.
+WITH THE ABSENCE OF OVERHEAD TO BE RECOUPED FROM SHELTERED WORKERS. THERE WOULD BE NO DEDUCTION WHATSOEVER FROM THE IR EARNINGS AND THEY CAN TAKE HOME AS MUCH AS THEY ARE ABLE TO EARN ON A PIECE RATE BASIS WHICH IS ENTIRELY AT THE MARKET RATE FOR THE SAME TYPE OF WORK DONE EY ABLE-BODIED WORKERS,+ MR. KHOO SAID.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, EACH SHELTERED WORKER IS ALSO GIVEN INCENTIVE PAYMENT OF $3.50 PER DAY AND PROVIDED WITH FREE TRANSPORT OR FULL REIMBUSEMENT OF TRAVELLING EXPENSES.
+JOB ORDERS ARE PROCURED BY REHABILITATION OFFICERS OF THE SOCIAL MELFARE DEPARTMENT HAVING REGARD TO THE NUMBER AND ABILITIES OF THE DISABLED IN THE IR CHARGE. THE MORA IS SCHEDULED, TAUGHT AND SUPERVISED BY TRADE INSTRUCTORS CF ORKSHOP SUPERVISORS, + M. KHOE SAID.
.L
/HOWEVER,