Unemployment blues hit disabled community

Unemployment blues have hit the disabled community, with some already seeking help.

One organisation, Bizlink - which finds employment for them - has also seen a dip in vacancies.

Alfred Halim, who is deaf, is working as an IT and maintenance technician with a company that manages seven Subway outlets.

However, things were not always as rosy. He applied to 30 companies and waited for six months, but none replied. He got his break with Remnant Holdings, a company which hired others like him.

Sarah Andrea Lee, managing director, Remnant Holdings, said: "They constitute about 21 per cent of my company's workforce. I believe that everyone should be given equal opportunities, as we can expound and utilise and maximise other senses."

Ms Lee added that most of the disabled staff carry out duties as counter crew at food outlets. They were mostly referred by Mountbatten Vocational School or Bizlink.

Even with the downturn, her company is ready to recruit another 10-20 staff.

Unlike Alfred, many within the disabled community are still waiting for that opportunity.

Bizlink said of the 600 disabled people assessed for open employment this year, only about half secured jobs. And this will become more difficult with the gloomy economic outlook.

Joseph Chan, head, Employment Place Group, Bizlink, said: "For the past two to three months, we have people coming back to us, because they are being retrenched.

"And given these cost-cutting measures taken up by companies, there will probably be more to come. We are seeing less vacancies right now for people with disabilities."

According to Mr Chan, most of those retrenched are from the manufacturing sector.

Bizlink hopes more companies will take up the government's "Open Door Fund" which helps employers defray the cost of hiring the disabled.

Mr Chan said: "Probably more can be done to help to publicise the scheme to more employers, and letting them know what are the criteria. We believe the relevant ministry would be happy to hear from them and modify (the scheme) accordingly, so as to make it more attractive to them."

Even with a tighter job market, Bizlink feels the disabled can still find jobs in the food and beverage, hospitality and cleaning sectors. Those not suitable for open employment can find paid employment at Bizlink's sheltered workshops.

So far Bizlink has recruited some 120 disabled individuals. Each worker is paid between S$500 and S$1,000 each month.

- Channel News Asia