65 employers honored for hiring disabled workers

2013-7-24

From：Macau Daily Times

Sixty five employers were praised during the fifth edition of Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) award ceremony for companies and institutions that provide disabled people with work.
Speaking at the ceremony, Iong Kong Io, Head of the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), said the amount of awarded employers had increased from 35 in the first edition to 65 this year. “The increase indicates employers are recognizing disabled people’s working capability and that they are willing to give support, which is quite encouraging.”
Iong stated that according to data provided by these institutions, half of the disabled applicants recommended by private institutions were hired. “Some 80 percent of these hired staff stayed in their positions for more than half a year.”
Director of the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Wong Chi Hong, who also presided over the appreciation event, introduced the goal of the scheme, which is to enable employers to find suitable staff and provide opportunities for disabled people to make a contribution to society.
According to Wong, the awarded corporations employ 214 disabled staff engaged in 10 different industries. Nearly 29 percent of the disabled people work in the gaming and hotel industry, followed by government departments and cleaning service enterprises, accounting for 18 percent and 14 percent respectively.
The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) has been hiring disabled people since 1979, according to their representative, Mr. Cheung. “We hire those with intellectual disability, psychological disability as well as language barriers.”
Mr. Tang, from the media industry, said 2012 was their first attempt at employing disabled staff. “We don’t confine them in the office. They need to go out and have contact with the public directly, such as distributing newspapers.”
Mr. Wu, a representative from a cleaning service company, said they had hired people with disabilities for more then three years. “We first tried employing disabled people because few people in Macau are willing to do cleaning work. But later we found that disabled staff are loyal to the company. Once they find the positions that suit them, they prefer to stay.”
The award scheme was organized by IAS and DSAL at the StarWorld Hotel yesterday. The scheme has been held every two years since its inception in 2005.

Copyright@Macau Daily Times