In the 2024 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced that, to encourage and support persons with disabilities to engage in employment, the Government would introduce the “Caring Employer” medal (the medal) to commend employers who actively engage persons with disabilities. To this end, the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) has launched the “Diverse Abilities．Inclusive Workplace Recognition Scheme” (the Recognition Scheme) on the basis of the existing Talent-Wise Employment Charter, and collaborate with the “Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment” funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to jointly take forward the medal for synergy. This aims to encourage more enterprises to participate, foster inclusive workplace, and promote the employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Gathering the expertise and experience of collaborative partners from the social welfare, business and higher education sectors, “Jockey Club Collaborative Project for Inclusive Employment” contributed in determining the eligibility, organisation categories, award system and requirements of the medal.

The medal features different categories, covering large corporations, small and medium enterprises, and non-governmental organisations/social enterprises/public organisations, etc. It adopts a three-tiered award system, and encourages employers to take the first step in supporting the employment of persons with disabilities, and proceed from a supporter (Level 1: Disability Inclusive Supporter), an employer (Level 2: Disability Inclusive Employer) to a role model with distinguished and continuous efforts in building an inclusive workplace (Level 3: Disability Inclusive Pioneer).

Besides, there are three thematic awards under the Recognition Scheme, which recognise outstanding employees who provide support to colleagues with disabilities to adjust and integrate into the workplace (Inclusive Buddy Award), programmes that benefit persons with disabilities through cross-sector partnerships (Inclusive Collaboration Award), and achievements in innovation (Inclusive Innovation Award).

行政長官在《2024年施政報告》中宣布，為鼓勵和支援殘疾人士就業，政府會設立「愛心僱主」獎章（奬章），表揚積極聘請殘疾人士的僱主。為此，勞工及福利局（勞福局）在現時的「有能者・聘之約章」的基礎上，推出「多元才能・共融職場嘉許計劃」（嘉許計劃），並與由香港賽馬會慈善信託基金資助的「賽馬會共融・知行計劃」合作，一同推展奬章以發揮協同效應，藉此鼓勵更多企業參與，推動職場共融，促進殘疾人士的就業機會。

「賽馬會共融・知行計劃」凝聚了來自社福、商業、高等教育等界別的合作伙伴的專長及經驗，協助制訂獎章的參加資格、組別、獎項制度及要求等。

獎章設有不同組別，涵蓋大型企業、中小企、非政府組織／社會企業／公營機構等。獎章設有三個級別，鼓勵僱主邁出支持殘疾人士就業的第一步，由「支持」做起（第一級：殘疾共融支持機構），進一步「實踐」（第二級：殘疾共融僱主），再邁向「卓越」成為在構建共融職場方面持續深耕的卓越典範（第三級：殘疾共融先鋒）。

另外，嘉許計劃設有三個主題獎項，分別表揚為殘疾同事提供支援以助他們融入及適應工作環境的優秀員工（共融同伴獎）、透過跨領域合作以改善殘疾人士福祉的項目（共融協作獎）及在創新方面的卓越成就（共融創新獎）。