A seminar on vocational training and employment opportunities for the disabled, jointly held by the Binh Dinh Department of Labor, War Invalid, and Social Affairs and Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH), aiming to resolve difficulties in creating job for disabled people.
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Rattan products made by disabled people at Dong Tam Social Sponsoring Center. Photo N.T
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Not many businesses employ the disabled
According to the statistics released by the Department of Labour, War Invalid, and Social Affairs, over 50 percent of working age disabled people are in work now, mainly in the rural areas and small businesses. Most of the disabled people are temporarily working at administrative bodies and enterprises.
The results of the study carried out on October 1, 2009 also showed that, among 2,350 enterprises, only 26 employed 206 disabled people.
At present, the 18.4 private enterprise and Thanh Hiep Co., Ltd are the only ones recruiting disabled people, but the number of disabled employees is still limited. Businesses operating in industrial zones barely offer job vacancies for the disabled.
Most disabled people are employed for manual works as they lack qualifications and skills. Working in the economic sector, they also play a role as sales assistants or lottery sellers.
The disabled couldn’t meet enterprises’ demands; also, they find it difficult to offer suitable vacancies for disabled ones.
Opportunities for the disabled
Vocational training and employment opportunities for the disabled have been given priority. The People’s Committee of Binh Dinh Province has, for example, promulgated many policies and set up an employment fund, aiming to help disabled people.
However, there are still many shortcomings in the popularization of disabled people related policies and law; whilst, many bodies and enterprises have barely been aware of their obligations to help the disabled.
Vo Dinh Minh, the 18.4 company’s owner, said that many disabled people came to his company to join vocational training courses but he only employs 4-8 each year. He has proposed a plan to offer more opportunities for disabled people by taking out preferential loans for the expansion of his workshops.
“The vocational training and employment opportunities require the contribution of many,” he added.
Nguyen Thi Du, director of Thanh Hiep Co., Ltd where 40 disabled employees are working now, said that offering employment opportunities for the disable is to not only employ them but help them improve their skills.
The disable workers often face many difficulties at work as they have a feeling of inferiority. They thus require our sympathy. The disable people also need works which are suitable to their strength and weaknesses.
However, despite some particular difficulties, the disabled are very industrious and they will represent their ability if possible.
Du also said that relevant bodies must open vocational training courses for the disabled and enterprises then offer them suitable vacancies. Alongside this, the disabled need to be assisted in taking out preferential loans as many small-scaled businesses owned by the disabled are facing the shortage of loans to expand their business and attract more disabled workers.
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