ILO makes business case for hiring disabled persons
More than a dozen multi-national companies (MNCs) as well as Governments and disabled persons’ groups.are participating in a ground-breaking ILO workshop advocating the message that hiring people with disabilities makes good business sense.
Hiring people with disabilities makes good business sense – that’s the message of a ground-breaking workshop being organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
About 80 people representing more than a dozen multi-national companies (MNCs) as well as Governments and disabled persons’ groups, will attend the one-day event, being held inBangkokon Wednesday 6th July. Fifteen countries from throughout Asia-Pacific are expected to be represented.
“This is the first meeting of its kind in Asia Pacific that we know of,” said Debra Perry. “The ILO is working directly with leading MNCs as well as governments and advocacy groups to improve the employment prospects of disabled people in this region. We are thrilled that these companies, who include many household names, are so enthusiastic about working with us”.
There are more than 370 million disabled people in Asia Pacific (more than half the global total), of whom 238 million are of working age.
The meeting will focus on the business case for hiring and retaining workers with physical, mental or intellectual disabilities. Experts will argue that such workers make good, dependable employees who are likely to stay on the job, that a more diverse workforce builds better teamwork and morale, and that recruiting people with disabilities taps into an underexploited pool of skills, experience and talents.
The specialists also point out that employees with disabilities can give valuable insights into a multi-billion dollar – but overlooked – market segment which includes not only disabled consumers but their families and friends.
As well as improving contacts, awareness and discussion, the organisers hope the meeting will launch strategic partnerships between the companies, governments and advocacy groups. It should also identify specific problems in hiring and training disabled people, as well as concrete action steps to address these challenges.
The meeting, “Unlocking Potential: A Multinational Corporation Roundtable on Disability and Employment”, is being held at the United Nations Conference Centre. It is being organized jointly by the ILO and the Economic and Social Commission forAsiaand the Pacific (ESCAP).
For more information please contact:
Debra Perry
Senior Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation
02 288 1792
perry@ilo.org
Sophy Fisher
Regional Information Officer
02 288 2482
fisher@ilo.org