+
N
TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1977
HOWEVER,
HE NOTED THAT SHELTERED WORKERS ARE NOT EMPLOYEES OF THE WORKSHOPS OR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. RATHER, THEY MAY LOOK UPON THEMSELVES AS THEIR OWN BOSS WITH FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO ENABLE THEM TO DO SO.+
SUB-CONTRACT WORK FOR FIRMS AND NON-COMMERCIAL UNDERTAKINGS, THOUGH SIMPLE, UNREFINED AND WITHOUT FRILL OR FUSS, IS ECONOMICAL AND EFFECTIVE. IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE MOST CONDUCIVE TO MAXIMISING THE EFFORTS OF THE SHELTERED WORKERS.
IN CONTRAST, WORKSHOPS PRODUCING FOR THE MARKET OR SORTING AND REBUILDING OF DONATED ARTICLES, REQUIRE CAPITAL IN MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTION, AND INCUR GREATER RECURRENT OVERHEAD WITHOUT CORRESPONDING REAL EARNINGS TO THE SHELTERED WORKERS.
APART FROM ITS ECONOMIC VALUE, THE WORKSHOPS ALSO SERVE AS A TRAINING GROUND FOR MARKETABLE SKILLS AND WORK HABITS. IT CAN BE A STEPPING STONE TO VOCATIONAL ADJUSTMENT AND ADVANCEMENT. THOSE WHO ARE CAPABLE OF GRADUATING TO OPEN EMPLOYMENT AFTER A PERIOD IN A SHELTERED WORKSHOP ARE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED TO DO SO.
MR. KHOO RECALLED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD HAD A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING WORK PLACES FOR THE DISABLED. SOME SHELTERED WORK, MAINLY KNITTING AND ASSEMBLING, HAD ALREADY BEEN AVAILABLE IN 1949 TO DISABLED PERSONS AS AN ADJUNCT TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING CLASSES PROVIDED IN THE NORTH POINT RELIEF CAMP.
ORGANISED SHELTERED WORKSHOPS APPEARED ON THE SCENE IN 1955 WHEN SOME RESIDENTS OF THE WELFARE CENTRE FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AT SHAP LONG ON LANTAU ISLAND TOOK UP BEAD STRINGING, PLASTIC BAG MAKING AND AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
SIMILAR SERVICES HAD ALSO BEEN PROVIDED BY VARIOUS NON-GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT,
OVER THE YEARS, THIS SERVICE HAD GROWN CONSIDERABLY AND ILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN THE YEARS TO COME, MR. KHOO SAID.
HOWEVER, HE NOTED, CONTINUCUS CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE NON-GOVERNMENT SECTOR IS NECESSARY IF SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT IS TO BE PROVIDED FOR ALL WHO NEED IT.
+MORE IMPORTANT, MORE ORDERS FROM BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE FIRMS ARE NEEDED TO KEEP THESE SHELTERED WORKSHOPS GOING, + HE ADDED.
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