PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) is urging more employers in the country to hire persons with disabilities (PWDs) as the current employment figure involving this group is low. According to MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman, out of the 637,537 registered PWDs in the country, only about 12,000 of them are currently employed.
Dr Syed Hussain highlighted that the government is encouraging the hiring of PWDs and has set a 1% quota for their employment. Based on this quota, there should be at least 162,000 PWDs employed in the country. He emphasized that PWDs represent a large pool of talents that are not yet fully tapped.
Malaysia enacted the Persons with Disabilities Act in 2008, which provides equal access to public facilities, healthcare services, and recreational activities for PWDs. As part of this legislation, the National Council for Persons with Disabilities was established to promote employment for people with disabilities.
In order to increase the number of employment opportunities for PWDs, Dr Syed Hussain suggested that employers create a productive working environment that is conducive for PWDs. He also mentioned that some adjustments may be required to the job itself. These flexibilities will have a positive impact on job satisfaction and are critical in attracting and retaining PWDs in the workplace.
Dr Syed Hussain further advised employers to implement safe transition platforms for PWDs to assimilate in the workplace and accelerate their participation in the wider community.
The 2023 Budget includes various incentives for employers who hire PWDs, such as tax deductions and wage subsidies of RM600 per month for a three-month period.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
