The "Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise" Project (3E Project) of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) has launched two enhancement measures to encourage non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to set up more social enterprises, and to provide continuous support to the social enterprises set up by NGOs to sustain the employment of persons with disabilities.
Additional funding for salary expenses for the employment of one staff in the preparatory stage
This new arrangement allows eligible NGOs, apart from the approved grant, to apply in their application for the employment of one staff engaging in the preparatory work involving drafting the business proposal and training employees with disabilities during the preparatory stage of the project. Upon approval of the business project, the NGO may apply for reimbursement of the salary and mandatory provident fund for this employee up to a maximum of six months prior to business commencement. The total amount of subsidy for the business project and these salary expenses may not exceed the cap at $3 million.
Extension of funding support for salary expenses of employees with disabilities
Presently, funded businesses receive subsidies from SWD within the first three years of the contract to cover the set-up cost of capital items and/or the operating loss for the initial three years. Considering that it takes time for funded businesses to build up their customer base, SWD may extend the period of subsidising the salary expenses of employees with disabilities and allow funded businesses to apply for additional funding to cover half of the salary expenses of both full-time and part-time employees with disabilities for two years immediately after the funding period, subject to the total amount of grant not exceeding the ceiling at the time when the original contract was entered into. Documentary proof including employment contracts and payroll records should be provided for verification.
For more details of the two enhancement measures, please visit the SWD website (https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/pubsvc/rehab/cat_fundtrustfinaid/enhancinge/) and refer to the Guide to the 3E Project on the webpage.
