KLANG, Oct 22 — The Selangor government is expanding job opportunities for disabled people (OKU) to achieve the 1 per cent target of OKU hires in the workforce, with the current standing at 0.4 per cent.
“The 1 per cent we’re targeting at state level, we have started with YANIS (Yayasan Insan Istimewa Selangor). YANIS has achieved the 1 per cent.
“If we want to achieve the 1 per cent, we must start with (state) subsidiaries, (and) others will follow including private companies,” state executive councillor for women empowerment and welfare Anfaal Saari said when met after the Selangor OKU Inclusive Awards, held at Wyndham Acmar Klang here last night.
She said the state government has held talks with private firms to encourage more employers to offer jobs to the group, with the focus not only on increasing employer participation, but to develop OKUs’ talents and skills so they may earn without depending on welfare.
She added that a recent OKU-specific career programme was among platforms to match disabled folk with employers.
Anfaal also said the state government will continue with Disability Equality Training (DET).
“Part of our advocacy (is to) continue DET, because there are employers who don’t understand what achieving the 1 per cent is, what they need and the preparations,” she explained.
She said this training is essential to ensuring employers don’t just offer jobs, but also provide appropriate infrastructure, facilities and work environments.
She added that DET will continue with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) through Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation), or MBI, with the programme’s expansion expected next year.
Meanwhile, Anfaal said OKU needs are going beyond welfare.
“If we look at (our initial initiatives), we did focus a lot on welfare, but now (disabled folk) are asking for the same requirements as other people. Like their access to anywhere — buildings, education, health — they are asking for access like that,” she added.
Based on JKM figures announced at the awards ceremony, there are around 159,000 people with disabilities registered in Selangor.
Anfaal thus said state policies must consider OKU needs from the get-go to ensure facilities are more inclusive, and encouraged local authorities to introduce more OKU-friendly initiatives by also improving inclusivity in their own workforces.
During the ceremony last night, themed “Recognising Potential, Empowering Inclusivity”, 12 awards in four categories were presented. The awards recognised contributions from employers, disabled workers, local authorities, and District Education Offices (PPDs) in providing jobs and more inclusive work environments.
“We hope this Selangor OKU job inclusivity awards (ceremony) can be made an official annual event, and becomes a benchmark of best practices in the social inclusivity and equal empowerment agenda at the Selangor level,” Anfaal said.
