HK employers to get subsidy for every employee with disabilities

Application for the grant is through nomination by other groups

BY Dexter Tilo 13 Apr 2022

Hong Kong employers with workers who have disabilities may apply for a one-off subsidy that can be used to modify their workplaces to assist employees with disabilities.

The subsidy is part of the Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities (SPED), which is offered by Hong Kong's Social Welfare Department.

The one-time grant of up to $40,000 is given to an employer for every employee in their ranks that has a disability. It can be used for the procurement of computer accessories or adaptive equipment, optical magnifying devices, hearing and assistive devices, Braille products, and handrails.

"The programme aims to assist employees with disabilities in discharging their duties in the workplace and enhance their work efficiency," said the government in its statement.

According to the government, application for the SPED programme can only be done through nomination by the following organisations:

non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating SWD-subvented vocational rehabilitation services
NGOs running training courses for persons with disabilities or persons recovering from work injuries with the funding support of the Employees Retraining Board
the Selective Placement Division of the Labour Department
the Vocational Training Council
the SPED Administrator (Po Leung Kuk)

Po Leung Kuk has been commissioned to serve as the SPED administrator, according to the Hong Kong government, whose responsibility involves administering and promoting SPED.

The administrator is also in charge of providing advisory services and following up on the progress of the subsidised programmes. The official also prepares assessments on the applications and recommends it to the Committee on the SPED set up by the SWD.

The government said employers may submit their accomplished application forms together with the required documents by mail or in person to the SWD through the referring organisations.

Application is open all year round, with no application fee required, and employers permitted to submit more than one application.

Hong Kong's SWD oversees the government's policies on social welfare and for developing and co-ordinating social welfare services.

"These include social security, services for the elderly, family and child welfare services, medical social services, group and community work, services for young people, rehabilitation services for people with disabilities, as well as services for offenders."