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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (August 25) visited a social enterprise eatery funded under the "Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise" Project (3E's Project) to see how the 3E's Project has successfully promoted employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
He visited Café 330 at the Extension Block of the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin. It is one of the five social enterprises currently operated by the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (NLPRA) with funding support from the 3E's Project.
When briefed by the Chief Executive Officer of the NLPRA, Ms Sania Yau, Mr Cheung commended the Association for being a pioneer in the operation of social enterprises, thereby providing useful experience for other organisations over the years.
Launched in 2001 by the Social Welfare Department, the 3E's Project aims at creating more direct employment opportunities for persons with disabilities through a market-oriented approach.
The 3E's Project supports the setting up of small enterprises/businesses by non-governmental organisations with a one-off grant of up to $2 million as seed money, on condition that the number of employees with disabilities should not be less than half of the total number of persons on the payroll of the concerned business.
Mr Cheung noted that since the inception of the 3E's Project, a total of $41 million has been approved for the funding of 66 business projects of a diversified nature ranging from cleaning, baking, eco-tourism, catering, car cleansing, mobile massage, retailing, fruit and vegetable wholesaling and processing to tourism services. Over 1 500 persons with disabilities have been employed in these funded business over the years.
"The 3E's Project has created more than 520 jobs for persons with disabilities in total. Currently, 54 business schemes funded under the project are in operation. It shows that a majority of the funded projects can stand on their own feet after starting up with the seed money support. As a result, many persons with disabilities can genuinely benefit from the job opportunities created," said Mr Cheung.
During his visit to Café 330 today, Mr Cheung chatted with staff of the cafeteria and was delighted to hear them share how the able-bodied employees and the employees with disabilities co-operated smoothly in providing services to customers under a harmonious working environment. He also took the chance to be a customer of this social enterprise.
Ends/Thursday, August 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:42
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