XN000022-1976-03-13 — Page 6

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1978

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45 DISABLED PLACED TO WORK ******

THE JOB PLACEMENT UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOUND JOBS FOR 45 DISABLED PEOPLE LAST MONTH. THIRTY OF THEM WERE ABSORBED BY THE GARMENT INDUSTRY.

COMMENTING ON THIS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID : +WE HOPE THIS IS EVIDENCE THAT THE ECONOMY IS PICKING UP AND THAT THE GARMENT INDUSTRY IS THRIVING AGAIN,+

OF THE 30 PLACED IN GARMENT FACTORIES, 17 WERE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND TEN DEAF. MOST OF THEM WERE EMPLOYED AS MACHINE-SEWING AND MACHINE-KNITTING OPERATORS.

IN ORDER TO MEET THE UPSURGE IN DEMAND, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE REHABILITATION DIVISION HAD BEEN ORGANISING CRASH COURSES FOR TRAINEES ON INDUSTRIAL MACHINE-SEWING AT THE VARIOUS VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES SINCE DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DISABLED PEOPLE PLACED TO WORK LAST MONTH WERE EMPLOYED ON A PIECE-RATE BASIS AND 19 ON DAILY RATES RANGING FROM $12 TO $20. THE OTHERS. RECEIVED PAY RANGING FROM $250 TO $480 A MONTH.

+ IT IS INDEED ENCOURAGING TO SEE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISABLED IMPROVING AND MORE EMPLOYERS BECOMING PROGRESSIVE ENOUGH TO EMPLOY DISABLED WORKERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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