Third round of Intensive Employment Assistance Projects invites applications

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) invites interested bona fide non-profit making organisations to apply for a term of 2-year funding to support the third round of Intensive Employment Assistance Projects (IEAPs).

     The projects are tailor-made for employable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients and other disadvantaged groups to help improve their job skills and remove their work barriers so they can move towards greater self-reliance. The application starts from today (April 14) and continue until May 7, 2005.

     The SWD has obtained an allocation amounting to $200 million from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and Lotteries Fund to support around 100 IEAPs over a four-year period from 2003 to 2007. All these projects together are expected to serve no less than 27 000 able-bodied unemployed people.

     With these funds, operating agencies will provide project participants with individualised employment assistance services to enhance their employability as well as their ability to sustain employment; and Temporary Financial Aid to tide them over short-term financial hardship and to meet employment-related expenses so that they can leave or do not fall into the CSSA net.

    Speaking at the Briefing Session today, the Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Administration), Mrs Agnes Allcock, explained that based on the progress to date, the intensified Support for Self-reliance measures implemented since June 2003 have been found effective in containing the growth of CSSA unemployment cases.

     This cannot be simply explained as an effect of the improvement in the economy or the unemployment situation. It is believed that with non-governmental organisations' concerted efforts in implementing IEAPs, the intensified measures are having a new and energizing effect on reduction of welfare dependency. The department looks forward to cooperating with various sectors of the community to promote self-reliance and strengthen the Welfare-to-Work programmes.

     For the first and second batches launched respectively in year 2003 and 2004, a total of 70 projects have been approved. This year, no less than 30 projects will be supported and implemented from October 2005 to September 2007. Outcome-based performance indicators will be used to monitor the effectiveness of these projects.

     Details of application and the application forms can be downloaded from the What's New in the SWD homepage at http://www.info.gov.hk/swd/. For enquiries, please call 2231 5872 or 2231 5866. The closing date for submission of application is 12 noon on May 7, 2005 (Saturday).

Ends

April 14, 2005