XN000022-1975-08-04 — Page 5

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MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 1975

SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN JOBS SITUATION FOR DISABLED

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISABLED IMPROVED SLIGHTLY IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR AND UP TO THE END OF JUNE 1975. THE JOB PLACEMENT UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SUCCESSFULLY PLACED 61 OF THEM IN VARIOUS TYPES OF WORK. THIS COMPARES WITH 47 WHO WERE FOUND EMPLOYMENT DURING THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDING ON DECEMBER 31, 1974.

MR. CHAN SHIU-WING, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE UNIT, SAID THAT THE HIGHEST MONTHLY FIGURE THIS YEAR WAS 17, WHICH WAS RECORDED IN JUNE.

IT IS INDEED ENCOURAGING AND WE ONLY HOPE THIS IS A SIGN THAT THE ECONOMY OF HONG KONG IS KICKING UP. + HE SAID. +IT IS ALSO COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT EMPLOYERS ARE WILLING TO TAKE ON DISABLED PEOPLE WHEN ABLE-BODIED WORKERS ARE READILY AVAILABLE.+

MR. CHAN STRESSED THAT EMPLOYERS HAD NOTHING TO LOSE IN

EMPLOYING DISABLED WORKERS.

+THEY ARE STEADY WORKERS, LESS PRONE TO CAUSE TROUBLE TO THEIR EMPLOYERS OR TO SWITCH FROM ONE JOB TO ANOTHER AS OFTEN AS ABLE-BODIED WORKERS.

+THEY ALSO SHOW A GREATER CONCENTRATION IN THEIR WORK. TAKE THE EXAMPLE OF A DEAF WORKER - HE IS LESS EASILY DISTRACTED BY NOISES AROUND HIM,+ MR. CHAN POINTED OUT.

HE SAID EMPLOYERS COULD EXPECT BETTER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE DISABLED AND THE ABLE-BODIED WORKERS BECAUSE INSTEAD OF REJECTING THEIR HANDICAPPED COLLEAGUES, THE ABLE-BODIED WORKERS USUALLY OFFER HELP TO THEM VOLUNTARILY.

HE ALSO ASSURED EMPLOYERS THAT DISABLED WORKERS WERE WELL- PREPARED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT BEFORE THEY WERE GIVEN ANY JOB.

THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE DISABLED IN A DIVERSITY OF TRADES WHICH INCLUDE MACHINE-SEWING, CARPENTRY, ELECTRONICS, PRINTING, METAL WORK, GARDENING AND SHOE-MAKING.

IT TRIES ITS BEST TO ENSURE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE THAT WHAT THE DISABLED LEARN IN THE TRAINING CLASSES CORRELATES WITH WHAT IS NEEDED IN THE JOB MARKET SO THAT NO TRAINING BY EMPLOYERS IS REQUIRED.

MR. CHAN SHIU-WING CITED THE MACHINE-SEWING CLASSES AS AN EXAMPLE. +WHENEVER NECESSARY WE INSTAL NEW MACHINERY TO SYNCHRONISE WITH CHANGES IN THE OUTSIDE GARMENT FACTORIES SO THAT WHEN HE IS PLACED IN A JOB THE DISABLED PERSON WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH THE EQUIPMENT BEING USED, HE SAID.

/AS FACTORIES