Since 1967, sheltered workshops have been set up by voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) to help people with differing levels of intellectual, physical, sensory and multiple disabilities who do not have competencies or skills for open employment. Today, six VWOs operate eight workshops helping 1,300 people with disabilities.

Currently, two workshops are able to put their clients on the Central Provident Fund scheme and give them employment benefits.

However, the other workshops generally serve clients with moderate and severe disabilities and engage them with meaningful tasks. In addition to an allowance, the clients may receive services including counselling, recreational activities, therapy, free meals, subsidised transport and social work assistance.

The total cost of providing clients' allowance and workshop services exceeds the market value of tasks performed by clients. In fact, the VWOs receive funding from the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to be operationally sustainable, and they require significant subsidies on a long-term basis.

In recent years, NCSS and MCYS have worked with the Ministry of Manpower and the VWOs to see how more VWO clients can enjoy CPF and other benefits.

The Enabling Masterplan 2007-2011 initiated by NCSS and MCYS also highlighted the importance of enhancing the employability of people with disabilities. The Enabling Employers has been set up to champion employment of the disabled. This past year alone, the Open Door Fund has helped 200 people with disabilities find employment in the open market. There will soon be a new centre co-funded by the Infocomm Development Authority and MCYS to train those seeking employment in the IT sector.

While more remains to be done, NCSS wishes to acknowledge the selfless good works put in by the countless workshop volunteers and staff in the past 41 years. We are also grateful to local companies for their support of the workshops. These companies have been forthcoming in outsourcing contract jobs so clients are meaningfully engaged. We hope more employers and the public will support people with disabilities who want to and are able to work.

Only then, can we truly look beyond disability to ability.

Tina Hung (Ms)
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
National Council of Social Service