MEMORANDUM ON DISABILITY ISSUES

vocational training:

 

"For instance, the Gurney Training Center for the blind is the only one of its kind in Malaysia. To date, with the existing facilities, only 3000 blind persons have received training although was projected in 1958 that an estimated 40,000 blind persons would benefits from it."

 

employment:

 

"The Progress Report (1996-2000) of the Mid-Term Review of the 8th Malaysia Plan revealed that only 3,489 jobs in the private sector and 536 in the public sector were offered to the disabled. more than 95% of people with disabilities are still unemployed."

 

well, take out your calculator now, and do some intelligent counting. perhaps you can tell us the answer.

____________

 

MEMORANDUM ON DISABILITY ISSUES

FOR THE

9TH MALAYSIA PLAN      

Findings of a Workshop held on 20th March 2005         

at YMCA Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur           

 

2. Recommendations on Vocational Training
Currently, there are a number of vocational training centers, run by the both government and NGOs, to cater to the training needs of people with disabilities.
However, there is a need for more vocational training centers offering courses which teach skills which are more relevant in terms of providing employment
opportunities such as IT and accountancy. For instance, the Gurney Training Center for the blind is the only one of its kind in Malaysia. To date, with
the existing facilities, only 3000 blind persons have received training although was projected in 1958 that an estimated 40,000 blind persons would benefits
from it. Therefore we recommend the following:

2.1 An increase in the number of training facilities and staff to create more training opportunities for people of all kinds of disabilities including intellectual
disability. The training courses should be relevant and marketable according to current needs.  The vocational training and skills programmes conducted
by the Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Youth and Sports should be made available to
disabled persons. This would foster integration and provide more training opportunities for people with disabilities.

2.2 The Bangi Industrial Training and Rehabilitation Center should be developed into a full-fledged institute offering a variety of courses that could contribute
effectively towards enhancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. People with disabilities should be represented in the management of
the center.

2.3 Incentives should be provided to technical and computer training centres in the private sectors, as well as those run by NGOs to encourage them to admit
disabled students into their training programmes. These centres should be subjected to incentives such as tax deductions for providing adapted equipment
and modifications for barrier-free access. These centres should also adhere to recommended safety standards for the disabled. 

2.4 Financial assistance should be provided to existing NGOs who conduct vocational training programmes. To qualify for financial assistance such training
centers should adhere to recommended standards of safety as well as provide facilities and accessibility to cater for people with various types of disabilities.

2.5 Retraining facilities for injured workers under the Ministry of Human Resources should be upgraded and implemented so that the disabled workers can
be placed in suitable jobs. The Department responsible for retraining should also be able to recommend the necessary adaptive devices required and specifications
for a barrier-free workplace for the disabled worker.   

2.6 Appropriate training should be provided to people with disabilities to enable them to become Independent Business Owners. Low interest loans should
be provided to people with disabilities to encourage them to set up their own business and become self-reliant.  Courses in business entrepreneurship conducted
by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship should be offered free to disabled persons and this information should be disseminated widely among disability organisations. 

3. Recommendations on Employment

There are about 2300,000 disabled persons in Malaysia with about 132,655 registered with the Welfare Department as at December 2003.  In 1989 the government
announced that 1% of jobs in the public sector will be reserved for the people with disabilities. In 1990 the private sector was encouraged to do likewise.
The Ministry of Human Resources has since helped out in the placement of people with disabilities in suitable jobs. However, in spite of the incentives
provided, such as double tax deduction for the employment of disabled workers in the private sector, the quota is yet to be filled. The Progress Report
(1996-2000) of the Mid-Term Review of the 8th Malaysia Plan revealed that only 3,489 jobs in the private sector and 536 in the public sector were offered
to the disabled.  more than 95% of people with disabilities are still unemployed. Although some may not be able to hold down jobs, a large proportion can
still work and contribute to the society if given the opportunity, provided with assistive devices and some modifications made for barrier-free access.
It is sad to note that while the government has provided jobs for over 2 million foreign workers in Malaysia, the huge untapped workforce among people
with disabilities is yet to be recognised.    

Significant changes are needed in many areas to increase employment opportunities for disabled people in Malaysia. In order to make employment for people
with disabilities a reality the following must happen immediately:  

¨       The rights of people with disabilities to employment and the special needs should be taken into account through supportive legislation, strong enforcement
and active monitoring  

¨       Physical access to the built environment especially the access to the workplace and inside should be free of barriers through suitable modifications
 

¨       Public transportation should be made accessible to the disabled to enable them to commute to work  

¨       People with disabilities must acquire knowledge, experience and relevant skills through equal rights to education and vocational training to prepare
them for employment  

¨       Negative public perceptions about people with disabilities must be completely removed and they should be given the opportunity to participate in
decision-making processes
.   Therefore we recommend the following:

3.1 A special department handling job placement for the people with disabilities should be established within the Ministry of Human Resources. This department
should consider employing suitable qualified people with disabilities so that they can provide input towards the development of job placement programmes.
The department should have the following functions:

3.1.1 To look into the implementation of the 1% employment policy for people with disabilities in the public and private sectors. Employers not fulfilling
the 1% employment quota for the disabled should be fined. Such moneys collected should be placed in a fund to be administrated by the special placement
department to be used to promote employment opportunities for the people with disabilities. It is recommended that the fine or levy be equivalent to a
minimum of 1% of the total prospective wages of a disabled employee.

3.1.2 To provide specialized help and support to all employers in the recruitment, training, morale building, promotion and career development of disabled
workers as well as job orientation to disabled employment seekers.

3.1.3 To conduct research and disseminate statistical data and research findings regarding the employment of people with disabilities and the challenges
they face.  

3.2 The employment of people with disabilities should not be restricted to telephone operators and clerks but new employment opportunities should be identified
and created in both the public and the private sectors, including self employment schemes.

3.3 Advertisement offering job opportunities must be worded with special care to include opportunities for disabled candidates. For instance, the sentence
"people with disabilities are welcome to apply" could be added.

3.4 The government should train more sign language interpreters and offer to bear the costs of their salaries.

3.5 Employers who employ disabled workers should provide adequate parking space and resting places during lunch breaks for the disabled workers.

3.6 The government should consider making available vending stands to the blind and other people with disabilities to do business. This is to prevent them
from doing business indiscriminately in public places and will provide them with more employment opportunities. Conveniently located spaces should be provided
in the shopping complexes and other strategic areas to enable people with disabilities to operate their vending stands/businesses.

3.7 A "Buddy System" or "Mentoring Programme" should be created for disabled employee with learning difficulties to assist them integrate socially and enhance
learning speed.  

for full details of 13 recommendations, please review the entire document at:

 

http://www.pocam.org/DOWNLOAD/050601_memo3.htm