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Jakarta, 15 to 17 January 2002 |
Interregional
Consultative Expert Meeting
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Jakarta, 15 to 17 January 2002 |
Interregional
Consultative Expert Meeting
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Disability-Sensitive Policy Design And Evaluation For Sustainable Livelihoods For All In The Twenty-First Century: Hong Kong Experience in a Changing Regional ContextJoseph KwokPart 4 of 6 | Previous | Next SECTION FOUR
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| Organisation | Recurrent Expenditure | Non Recurrent Expenditure | Total Expenditure |
| ($ million) | ($ million) | ($ million) | |
| Health and Welfare Bureau | |||
| Rehabilitation Division | 13.7 | 4.9 | 18.6 |
| Mental Health Guardianship Board | 4.7 | 0.2 | 4.9 |
| Environmental Advisory Service | 1.6 | -- | 1.6 |
| Vocational Training | 147.3 | 5.2 | 152.5 |
| Hospital Authority | 4,656.3 | 63.4 | 4,719.7 |
| Department of Health | 121.1 | -- | 121.1 |
| Education Department | |||
| Departmental Services | 234.6 | 7.6 | 242.2 |
| Subvention2 | 1,336.5 | 81.9 | 1,418.4 |
| Social Welfare Department | |||
| Departmental Services | 197.5 | -- | 197.5 |
| Subvention | 1,688.7 | -- | 1,688.7 |
| Comprehensive Social Security Assistance to People with Disabilities | 4,661.8 | -- | 4,661.8 |
| Disability Allowance | 1,428.5 | -- | 1,428.5 |
| Labour Department | 38.9 | -- | 38.9 |
| Transport Department | 29.8 | 3.5 | 33.3 |
| Total | 14,561.0 | 166.7 | 14,727.7 |
Source: Health and Welfare Bureau, 1999; Appendix 1.4.
Notes: Cost figures are based on the draft estimates of 1999-2000 with on-costs including pension, gratuities, housing benefits, medical and dental benefits for the staff taken into account unless otherwise specified. Costs for practical schools and skills opportunity schools, which could not be identified until actual expenditure has committed, are also included.
Table 4.2 Public Expenditure on Rehabilitation Services in terms of Cost of Major Expenditure Items1 from 1989-90 to 1999-2000 (in HK$)
| Financial Year | Recurrent Expenditure (excluding payments under CSSA2 and DA3) | Payments under CSSA and DA to People with Disability | Non
Recurrent Expend- iture |
Total Public Expenditure on Rehab. Services | Total
Public Expend- iture4 |
Public Expenditure on Rehab. Services as a Percentage of Total Public Expenditure |
| ($ million) | ($ million) | ($ million) | ($ million) | ($ million) | (%) | |
| 1989-90 | 1,637 | 583 | 163 | 2,383 | 83,600 | 2.85 |
| 1990-91 | 2,032 | 728 | 202 | 2,962 | 100,190 | 2.96 |
| 1991-92 | 2,319 | 894 | 249 | 3,462 | 112,990 | 3.06 |
| 1992-93 | 3,254 | 1,112 | 211 | 4,577 | 127,300 | 3.60 |
| 1993-94 | 3,732 | 1,728 | 164 | 5,624 | 158,500 | 3.55 |
| 1994-95 | 4,448 | 2,045 | 83 | 6,576 | 170,850 | 3.85 |
| 1995-96 | 5,314 | 2,600 | 90 | 8,004 | 195,245 | 4.10 |
| 1996-97 | 5,959 | 3,541 | 96 | 9,596 | 217,195 | 4.42 |
| 1997-98 | 6,749 | 4,194 | 81 | 11,024 | 243,905 | 4.52 |
| 1998-99 | 7,885 | 5,276 | 155 | 13,316 | 275,125 | 4.84 |
| 1999-20005 | 8,471 | 6,090 | 167 | 14,728 | 290,130 | 5.08 |
Source: Health and Welfare Bureau, 1999; Appendix 1.5.
Notes: Cost figures are based on the revised estimates of the respective years (except for 1999-2000 which is based on the draft estimates). For public expenditure on rehabilitation services, on-costs including pension, gratuities, housing benefits, medical and dental benefits are taken into account. CSSA denotes Comprehensive Social Security Assistance. DA denotes Disability Allowance.
The sustainable livelihood measures in Hong Kong primarily aim at ensuring that PWD have an equal chance to participate in productive and gainful employment in the open market.
The vocational assessment service adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, including a specific assessment programme for all final year pupils in special schools. In addition there is a one-week assessment programme to sheltered workers, accident victims and other PWD applying for sheltered workshop or supported employment.
| School Year | 98/99 | 99/00 | 00/01 | 01/02 | 02/03 |
| (a) Projected demand | 520 | 538 | 592 | 609 | 608 |
| (b) Existing/Planned provision | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 | 430 |
| (c) Shortfall or (Surplus) (a - b) | 90 | 108 | 162 | 179 | 178 |
Source: Health and Welfare Bureau, 1999.
(http://www.info.gov.hk/hwb/english/WHATSNEW/RPP/C12.doc)
Vocational Training: Mainstream Training Programmes
Training institutions providing mainstream courses are encouraged to admit and integrate disabled students into their programmes as far as possible. To facilitate successful completion of study by disabled students, staff of the Vocational Training for Disabled Section visit and conduct counselling sessions for the disabled students regularly, and give advice on special teaching methods as well as special examination arrangements to the training/teaching staff concerned. In the school year 1997/98, there were 83 people with disabilities attending mainstream courses of the Vocational Training Council.
Vocational Training: Special Skills Centres
For people who, because of the nature of their disabilities and special needs, cannot follow mainstream vocational training, skills centres for people with disabilities provide special facilities and training programmes for them. Two levels of full-time courses, namely operative level and pre-craft level bridging courses, are offered to them. The aim of the former is to equip trainees with the necessary skills to secure open employment, and the latter is to provide training for either open employment or entry to mainstream vocational courses.
Some skills also provide boarding places with specific training programmes on independent living skills and social skills which are essential for the trainees’ successful integration into the community.
The projected demand and overall provision of full-time training places over the next five years are shown in Table 12.2 below.
| School Year | 98/99 | 99/00 | 00/01 | 01/02 | 02/03 |
| (d) Projected demand | 1 011 | 1 033 | 1 115 | 1 248 | 1 292 |
| (e) Existing/Planned provision | 1 001 | 1 121 | 1 157 | 1 217 | 1 217 |
| (f) Shortfall or (Surplus) (a - b) | 10 | (88) | (42) | 31 | 75 |
Source: Source: Health and Welfare Bureau, 1999.
(http://www.info.gov.hk/hwb/english/WHATSNEW/RPP/C12.doc)
To facilitate trainees’ transition from vocational training to work, a trial work placement scheme is arranged for skills centre trainees so as to provide an opportunity for them to experience actual work environment in the industrial or commercial sectors. During the trial period, support service is provided by skills centre staff. On their return to the skills centre, trainees concerned will be given extra training/coaching on the identified weak points. This scheme will be continued in the existing centre-based mode and individual centres will be encouraged to initiate their own schemes by taking into account the needs of their trainees and the job opportunities in their districts.
In addition to regular full-time programmes, the Vocational Training Council provides part-time evening programmes in a skills centre for adults with disabilities who want to acquire new or additional vocational skills. It also, in collaboration with NGOs, organises tailor-made short training courses with flexible attendance mode for people with disabilities who are seeking or aim to seek open employment.
In view of the fact that 300 short training course places are subvented by the Government for sheltered workers seeking supported or open employment, some NGOs requested for extending the subvention to cover also supported employment workers such that they could be exempted from paying the course fees. The Vocational Training Council will examine this request and make recommendations, as appropriate, to the Administration for consideration.
The Employees Retraining Board is an independent statutory body established in 1992 to administer the Employees Retraining Scheme. Apart from capital injection from the General Revenue, the Employees Retraining Fund is financed by a levy charged on employers hiring imported workers. With effect from the 2001-02 financial year, the Government will provide the ERB with annual recurrent subvention. The major target group of the Employees Retraining Scheme would be those eligible persons who are the “hard core” of the unemployed and are aged 30 or above with lower secondary education or below.
The Employees Retraining Board provides funding support for retraining programmes on the basis of three guiding principles of being cost-effective, client-centred and market-driven. The programmes must be employment-led, i.e. the contents are designed to meet the specific requirements of the job market. This approach has enabled the retraining programmes to be practical, focused and capable of meeting the market needs.
The ERB offers a wide range of retraining courses through 60 training bodies at over 110 training centres. These courses fall into six main categories: job search skills courses, job specific skills courses, general skills courses, courses for the elderly, courses with people with disabilities and tailor-made courses.
Full-time courses range from one week to three months. Half-day and evening courses normally range from three to six months. Examples of courses provided by the ERB are basic language and computer training, accounting, clerical, personal care workers, retail sales, building attendants and domestic helpers training.
The ERB also runs special programmes for elderly persons over the age of 45, people with a disability and industrial accident victims who wish to rejoin the employment market.
By the end of July 2000, the ERB has provided about 400 000 retraining places for over 210 000 persons. Over 70% of the retrainees who actively look for jobs are able to find employment after full-time retraining.
Upon completion of retraining courses, retrainees will be offered placement assistance by the respective training bodies. The training bodies are encouraged to refer the retrainees to the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department for seeking open employment. In addition, training bodies will offer follow-up services for disabled retrainees in the form of post-employment follow-up sessions, individual or group counselling, and visits to employers and retrainees at work. The Employees Retraining Board provides funding support for these services as an integral part of the retraining programmes for people with disabilities.
The Employees Retraining Board launched a new On-the-job Training Scheme in October 1997 to promote the employment opportunities of retrainees who lack practical experience to enter certain jobs at semi-skilled level. For specific retraining courses to which the On-the-job Training Scheme applies, the retraining course graduate will be paid an on-the-job training allowance. It is expected that upon completion of the on-the-job training period, retrainees will be able to acquire the experience needed to earn the normal market rates. The On-the-Job Training Scheme thus supplements classroom training by practical training on skills specific to each job and has been proven to be very cost-effective in skills development of the retrainees.
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Source: http://www.info.gov.hk/emb/eng/statist/index.html
The Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department provides free services for people with disabilities seeking open employment. Free recruitment service is also offered to employers who wish to employ employees with disabilities. Post placement follow-up service, which normally lasts three months to ensure successful job settlement, is also available. The service supply and demand estimation is given below.
| Year | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 |
| Registration | 2 864 | 3 334 | 3 482 | 3 100 | 3 598 |
| Placement | 1 414 | 1 422 | 1 430 | 1 476 | 1 455 |
| Placement Rate (%) | 49.4 | 42.7 | 41.1 | 47.6 | 40.4 |
Source: Health and Welfare Bureau, 1999.
(http://www.info.gov.hk/hwb/english/WHATSNEW/RPP/C12.doc)
| Year | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 |
| Registration | 3 598 | 3 832 | 4 081 | 4 346 | 4 629 |
Source: Health and Welfare Bureau, 1999.
(http://www.info.gov.hk/hwb/english/WHATSNEW/RPP/C12.doc)
A special placement scheme for the mentally handicapped has been launched on a pilot project basis since April 1998. Under the scheme, the Selective Placement Division refers suitable mentally handicapped job-seekers to fill vacancies offered by participating employers for a one-month trial placement period. Participating employers would receive a financial incentive, which equals half of the wages they paid to the employee in the trial period, subject to a ceiling of HK$3,000. In addition, a Certificate of Appreciation would be presented to the employers who continue to employ the mentally handicapped employees after the trial period.
Supported employment service is a kind of employment service for people with disabilities which allows them to work in an integrated open setting with necessary counselling and support services and to have access to all the usual benefits of having a job such as income at market rates and job security. It encompasses job finding and matching, job coaching, follow-through support and employment-related skills training. The ultimate goal is to prepare people with disabilities to work in an open and competitive setting independently.
In subventing supported employment service provided by NGOs, the Social Welfare Department adopts the following criteria -
(a) the income level of the disabled workers are expected to be exceeding HK$1,500 per month (excluding incentive payments);
(b) workers with disabilities should be encouraged to work in an open and integrated setting where they have opportunities to work with their able-bodied colleagues; and
(c) the programme will allow flexibility to gear towards changing needs of the labour market to ensure that its support to workers with disabilities is matching with reality.
Since 1989, different models of service provision have been tried out by the Social Welfare Department and NGOs. Some NGOs have set up non-profit making “simulated business” for their clients aiming to equip them with the practical skills required for open employment in a similar business. Under the government subvented supported employment service, placement in a simulated business is provided as a kind of job-training placement with certain duration rather than a real and long term employment for people with disabilities.
It is provided in a planned and controlled environment, i.e. sheltered workshop, with the ultimate objective of enabling them to move on to supported and open employment as far as possible. The majority of work in sheltered workshops relies on sub-contract jobs in the form of simple packaging, processing, finishing, assembly or sub-assembly work. To meet the changing market needs, some sheltered workshops have diverted to take on service orders, such as mailing, delivery, car washing, laundry, etc. The income of sheltered workers varies according to their capabilities and the nature and amount of job contracts available. In 1997-98, their income varied from HK$6.6 to HK$46.2 per man-day for sheltered workers in a sheltered workshop for severely physically handicapped persons and those in a sheltered workshop with mixed disability groups. The average daily income of sheltered workers was about HK$21. To encourage attendance, sheltered workers are given an incentive payment which is increased to HK$20 per day with effect from October 1998. The demand and provision of sheltered workshop places is given below.
Table 4.7 - Projected Demand and Provision of Sheltered Workshop Places
| Financial Year | 98-99 | 99-00 | 00-01 | 01-02 | 02-03 |
| (g) Projected demand | 9 317 | 10 042 | 10 777 | 11 518 | 12 266 |
| (h) Existing/Planned provision | 6 355 | 6 595 | 6 795 | 7 275 | 8 235 |
| (i) Projected annual discharge at a rate of 4.4% of the enrollment at the beginning of the year | 273 | 280 | 290 | 299 | 320 |
| (j) Shortfall or (Surplus) (a - b - c) | 2 689 | 3 167 | 3 692 | 3 944 | 3 711 |
Source: Health and Welfare Bureau, 1999.
(http://www.info.gov.hk/hwb/english/WHATSNEW/RPP/C12.doc)
The Civil Service Bureau adopts a proactive approach to promote employment of people with disabilities by identifying target departments, conducting sensitive job matching, preparing applicants with disabilities for recruitment exercises and conducting seminars on the subject for civil servants. A central fund has been established since 1 April 1996 to finance purchase of technical aids for civil servants with disabilities to assist them to perform their duties and a total amount of HK$1.77 million has been allocated by December 1998. As at 1 April 1998, there were 3 646 people with disabilities, excluding people with colour-blindness or defective colour perception, working in the civil service. They represented 1.96% of the total number of civil servants.
Some NGOs of and for PWD have been engaged in business operations with a primary aim in creating open employment opportunities. Such businesses include flower arrangement shops, franchises convenience stores, souvenir and gift watches, computer design and printing, and fast food restaurants. While these businesses are all operated on a self-sufficient basis, their start up capitals are mainly from funds raised through non-governmental sources. In spite of having a substantial number of their employees being PWD, some businesses are making very encouraging profits.
Public education is essential to promote employment opportunities of people with disabilities. The Publicity and Promotion Unit of the Selective Placement Division was set up in 1992. The Unit is actively engaged in promotion and public education programmes to foster understanding of the working abilities of people with disabilities and to enhance their employment opportunities. The Information Services Department, Social Welfare Department, Hospital Authority and NGOs also organise various publicity activities for the same purposes. In addition, some major employers’ associations have issued guidelines on equal opportunities on employment of people with disabilities to their members.
Marketing Consultancy Support
The Marketing Consultancy Office (Rehabilitation) was formed in January 1997 with the mission of increasing job opportunities for PWD. Its tasks include the following (SWD, 2002):
Computer Training
The government set up a Central Fund for Personal Computers in 1997, to provide financial assistance to PWD who encounter difficulties in securing open employment due to their limited mobility to purchase computer facilities.
Technical Aids and Resource Centre
The Technical Aids and Resource Centre of the Vocational Training Council designs and produces special aids and learning resources to assist its disabled trainees to pursue vocational training. It also gives advice on application of technical aids and modification of machinery to employers and disabled workers so as to improve disabled workers’ productivity and job prospects in the open market.
Technical and Funding Support in the Community
With the support from charitable funds and their own resources, some NGOs have set up funding schemes, for examples, the Employaid Scheme and the Independent Living Fund, to provide technical advice, support and grants/loans to people with disabilities for the purchase of equipment and devices as well as for the adaptation of premises and machinery so as to enable them to make full use of their working abilities.
Copyright (c) 2002 WorldEnable Last updated 11/02/03. |
