Award Presentation Ceremony cum Experience Sharing Session 2017-18

Introduction of Special Awards to recognise Inclusive Organisations in building a barrier-free workplace

To further mobilise the community to create more internship and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs), the Charter Scheme introduced the following Special Awards in 2017-18:

Friendly Employment Award: To give due recognition to the Inclusive Organisations which employ PWDs, utilise the work ability of employees with disabilities effectively thereby unleashing their potential and facilitating their sustainable development, or encourage their business partners to employ PWDs.

Outstanding Inclusive Team Award: To give due recognition to the mentors/ teams of Inclusive Organisations who/ which actively build an inclusive workplace, and assist employees with disabilities in coping with difficulties at work and in integrating into the work team.

List of the Awardee Organisations of the Friendly Employment Award and the Outstanding Inclusive Team Award in 2017-18

The Ceremony recognises the efforts and achievements of Inclusive Organisations in promoting the employment of persons with disabilities

2017-18 Award Presentation Ceremony cum Experience Sharing Session of Inclusive Organisations (the Ceremony) was held on Monday, 5 March 2018 at the Conference Hall, 2/F, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar. At the Ceremony, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, GBS, JP together with other officiating guests, Chairman of the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC), Mr Anthony Yeung Kwok-ki, BBS, JP; Chairman of the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities, Mr Benny Cheung Wai-leung; Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Mr Chua Hoi-wai; and Chairperson of the RAC Sub-committee on Employment, Mr Billy Man, presented the certificate of recognition of the Friendly Employment Award and the Outstanding Inclusive Team Award to representatives of the 160 awardee organisations to give due recognition to the organisations for their efforts in employing PWDs or encouraging their business partners to employ PWDs and to pay tribute to mentors/ teams who/ which actively build an inclusive workplace, and assist employees with disabilities in coping with difficulties at work and in integrating into the work team. Representatives of the outstanding awardee organisations were also invited to share their experience in promoting the employment of PWDs.

Opening address by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Chinese version only)

Representatives of Inclusive Organisations and guests of the Ceremony joined hands to promote the employment of PWDs and create a barrier-free workplace.

Opening address by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, GBS, JP

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, GBS, JP (Centre); Chairman of the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC), Mr Anthony Yeung Kwok-ki, BBS, JP (2nd from left); Chairman of the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities, Mr Benny Cheung Wai-leung (2nd from right); Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Mr Chua Hoi-wai (1st from left); and Chairperson of the RAC Sub-committee on Employment, Mr Billy Man (1st from right), officiated the kick-off ceremony for promoting the equal employment opportunities of PWDs.

Showcase the good practices of promoting employment of persons with disabilities at the Experience Sharing Session

At the Ceremony, representatives of the outstanding Inclusive Organisations and employees with disabilities were invited to share their experience on how they adopted “employment based on their abilities” principle to enhance inclusive culture in the workplace having regard to their business nature and needs.

Representatives of the awardee organisations of the Friendly Employment Award shared how they placed the employees with disabilities in suitable positions and turned the employees’ limitations into strengths to facilitate their business development as well as to unleash the employees’ talents. Representatives of the awardee organisations of the Outstanding Inclusive Team Award shared how they effectively supported the employees with disabilities in sustaining employment and provided promotion opportunities, such as introducing mentoring scheme to provide multi-facet support, arranging mentors to serve as bridges between the employees with disabilities and other workmates to foster inclusive workplace, and providing training of job-related skills and emotional support, etc.

The responsible, conscientious and courteous manners of the employees with disabilities were highly commended by their employers. Through the sharing by the representatives of the outstanding Inclusive Organisations and employees with disabilities, other Inclusive Organisations and employers were provided with more insights into the employment of PWDs, which can facilitate the sustainable development of inclusive measures.

Representatives of three awardee organisations of the Friendly Employment Award, namely AIA Pension and Trustee Co. Ltd., KPMG and My Little Coffee: coffeehouse & roasters, shared their experience on implementation of measures to enhance the employment opportunities of PWDs.

Representatives of three awardee organisations of the Outstanding Inclusive Team Award, namely Hong Yung Services Limited, Caritas Jockey Club Integrated Day Services Centre for the Elderly and HK Prince Foods Holdings Ltd., shared their experience on assisting employees with disabilities in integrating into the work team.