Opening doors to disabled workers

18 employers show interest in fund after rules relaxed

Friday • June 8, 2007


Nazry Bahrawi
nazry@mediacorp.com.sg

WITH easier access to grants, more companies have expressed interest in hiring disabled workers.

Just about one month after the rules were relaxed, the Open Door Fund — which helps firms hire disabled persons — has received enquiries from 18 employers, with six already working out specific proposals.

The fund provides subsidies of up to $100,000 per company for firms who are looking to make their work environment more disabled-friendly, and also run training programmes for disabled workers.

Previously known as the Enable Fund, a total of 11 companies had benefited from its grants between last July — when it was launched — and April. The Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) administers the Open Door Fund.

"One reason for this greater interest can be attributed to the change we made on May 1 to allow more companies to benefit from this fund," said Mr Koh Juan Kiat, SNEF's Executive Director, yesterday.

Previously, companies were eligible to tap into the fund only if they hired at least four new disabled persons.

Now, they can include existing disabled employees to meet the Fund's requirement of having four such workers.

While only 18 employers have expressed interest in the Fund, the figure may not be an accurate indication of companies that are actively pursuing the hiring of such workers, noted the Enabling Employers (EE). It is a network of 11 employers which promote the employment of disabled persons.

In fact, there are already "pockets of employment" for disabled persons in several government ministries and statutory boards, said EE member, Ms Wong Chooi Ling, Director of Corporate Services from the Singapore Land Authority.

Said Mr Koh: "There may be many companies out there that are recruiting one or two disabled workers without resorting to the Open Door Fund. One example is Holiday Inn Park View Singapore Hotel which has hired 15 disabled workers."

EE members yesterday toured the hotel to better understand how it is engaging disabled workers.

A primary aim of the EE network will be to educate companies to think beyond incentives if they wish to hire disabled workers, according to its chairman David Wong, Managing Director and Chief Executive, South-East Asia, ABN Amro Bank.

The network will also focus on getting companies to understand the importance of integrating disabled workers into their workforce, and paying them salaries that are on par with able-bodied staffs, he added.

It hopes to get 120 disabled workers employed by end this year.

Companies interested in the Open Door Fund can contact SNEF at 6827 6827 or email them at opendoor@snef.org.sg.

Copyright 2007 MediaCorp Press Ltd

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