Employment for persons with disabilities

Jobs fair creates opportunities of employment for the persons with disabilities and companies get appreciation

News | Dhaka | 20 October 2018
BBDN’s Champions of Disability Inclusive Employment Award 2018

A job fair hosted by Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN) - a unique network of employers promoting disability inclusion in workplace- specially tailored for the people with disability, partnering with Brac on 20 October 2018. BBDN is supported by the Government of Canada, funded ILO’s Bangladesh Skills for Employment and Productivity (B-SEP) project that works in partnerships with the Government of Bangladesh. It is an excellent and pioneering initiative by a network of industries and civil society championing the cause of disability inclusion in work place to make the labour market inclusive as well as equitable.

Out of 232number of persons with disabilities aspiring for jobs, 110 persons with a range of impairment successfully availed employment from the event. The 26 of job aspirants received appointment letter on the spot by the recruiting managers. Babylon group, Fakir Apparels, Vintage Denim, DBL Group, Esquire Group recruited from the fair.

On the same, BBDN and Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF) also organized an award ceremony for the selected nine employers and two chamber of commerce for promoting disability inclusion in their industries and thus encouraging inclusiveness and change in mind set. The companies awarded at this occasion include Square Group, Akhter Group, Viyellatex Group, ShinShin Group, Urmi Group, DBL group, Picard Bangladesh, Vintage Denim, Shwapno and the Chittagong and Sylhet Chamber of Commerce. This is a meticulous initiative to encourage and motivate employers to make their work place inclusive and disability friendly.

Speaking at the opening of the jobs fair Mr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator (SDG), Prime Minister’s Office stipulated, ‘Since the government is working to achieve the SDG goal in its all capacity and no one should leave behind to achieve the goal. I think this kind of jobs fair is highly motivating for the persons with disabilities.’

As per the words of ILO Country Director for Bangladesh, Mr. Tuomo Poutiainen, “I wish success to this award ceremony and expect positive outcome in terms of increase of participation of the persons with disabilities in skills and employment in Bangladesh promoting a very inclusive and diversified workplace.”

The Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN) was launched in 2016 with the support of ILO’s Canadian-funded Bangladesh Skills for Employment Project (BSEP). BBDN is a voluntary group of representatives from business, non-governmental and disabled peoples’ organizations with an initiating purpose of strengthening people with disabilities to find decent work and for employers to recruit staff with disabilities beyond the limitations.