FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1981
8
EMPLOYERS URGED TO EMPLOY DISABLED
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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, TODAY (FRIDAY) APPEALED TO ALL EMPLOYERS TO EXAMINE WHETHER THEY COULD DO MORE TO RECRUIT DISABLED PEOPLE,
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE 16TH NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE HONG KONG JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HELD AT THE REGENT HOTEL.
MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT IN SOME COUNTRIES, EMPLOYERS WERE REQUIRED BY LEGISLATION TO EMPLOY A SPECIFIC PROPORTION OF DISABLED PEOPLE.
THE SUCCESS OF SUCH COMPULSORY MEASURES WAS DIFFICULT TO ASSESS AS THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT IT CREATED RESENTMENT AGAINST THE DISABLED, HE SAID.
FOR THE PRESENT, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PREFERRED TO RELY ON VOLUNTARY CO-OPERATION FROM EMPLOYERS.
MR ALLEYNE SAID POSSIBLE WAYS OF DEVELOPING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYERS TO TAKE ON DISABLED WORKERS WERE BEING STUDIED.
DEDUCTIONS ON PROF ITS TAX ARE ALLOWED FOR MODIFICATION OF PREMISES OR PLANT OR PROVIDING SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING FOR DISABLED EMPLOYEES.
HE SAID A JOINT WORKING PARTY COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR WAS NOW REVIEWING FUTURE POLICY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS.
+ IF PRESENT ESTIMATES ARE CORRECT, WE FACE THE AWESOME TASK OF HAVING TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 3 000 SHELTERED WORK PLACES BY THE END OF THIS DECADE, HE SAID.
MANY COUNTRIES SAW THE NEED TO RUN SHELTERED WORKSHOPS ON BUSINESS-LIKE LINES - NOT SIMPLY AS A WAY TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES, BUT ALSO AS A WAY TO IMPROVE THE WAGE LEVELS AND SELF-ESTEEM OF SHELTERED WORKERS, HE SAID.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUCH AN APPROACH TO THE RUNNING OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND WELFARE AGENCIES ALONE, MR ALLEYNE SAID.
+RATHER IT WILL REQUIRE CO-OPERATION BY THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS IN IDENTIFYING PRODUCTION PROCESSES AND SERVICES WHICH CAN BE PASSED OUT TO SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, HE EXPLAINED.
MR ALLEYNE SAID IT WAS LIKELY THAT ABOUT 160 000 OR 6.5 PER CENT OF PEOPLE IN THE 15-64 AGE GROUP, WERE DISABLED TO A GREATER OR LESSER EXTENT,
HE CALLED FOR A POSITIVE COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS+ NOT JUST TO TALK ABOUT INDUSTRIAL SAFETY BUT TO TE PREPARED TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT IN MONEY AND EFFORT TO ENSURE A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.