Promoting Self-reliance
Highlights of the Year 2022-2023
Promoting Self-reliance
“Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise” Project
The Project aims to increase the employment opportunities for PWDs by directly creating jobs. It provides seed money to NGOs to establish small businesses on the condition that PWDs account for at least 50% of the entire staff on payroll. As at 31 March 2023, 138 businesses have been established with the support of the Project, including cleaning services, food and beverage, eco-tourism, car beauty services, massage services provided by visually impaired persons, retail services, vegetable supply and processing, etc., creating 1 386 jobs, including 972 for PWDs.
Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities
Provided employers of PWDs with a one-off subsidy of up to $40,000 for each disabled employee. The subsidy was intended for the procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications to facilitate the work and enhance the productivity of employees with disabilities. As at 31 March 2023, the Programme granted some $4.6 million to the employers of 268 PWDs for the procurement of assistive devices and/or workplace modifications.
Central Fund for Personal Computers
Assisted eligible PWDs in acquiring computer facilities for self-employment or receiving supported employment service at home. As at 31 March 2023, the Fund granted a total of about $5 million to 396 applicants.
IT Scheme for People with Visual Impairment
The Scheme aims to support non-governmental and non-profit-making organisations, as well as tertiary institutions providing social or educational services for persons with visually impairment (PVIs) to acquire advanced Chinese screen readers, Braille displays and accessories that facilitate PVIs’ access to the Internet; and to subsidise individual PVI with genuine financial difficulty to purchase these devices for study or employment purposes, thereby encouraging continuous access to information technology for social inclusion among PVIs. As at 31 March 2023, 5 organisational and 25 individual applications were approved under the Scheme, involving a total subsidy of about $0.89 million.
Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation)
The objective of the Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) [MCO(R)] is to enhance employment and training opportunities for PWDs through innovative, effective and efficient business development and marketing approaches. Services of the MCO(R) include assisting NGOs in setting up social enterprises and small businesses under the 3E Project, promoting PWDs’ products and services under the brand “Let Them Shine”, and strengthening NGOs’ co-operation with the Government and private sectors.