$30 million scheme to help disabled workers and their employers

This post came out from The New Paper (19 September 2015)

The Open Door Programme (ODP) is an initiative run by Government agency SG Enable that supports disabled workers and their employers.

In April last year, the Government set aside $30 million to fund the scheme over three years. Any Singapore-registered organisation interested in hiring, or who has hired employees with disabilities can apply for the programme that helps integrate disabled workers into the workplace.

The scheme covers job training, recruitment services, workplace modification, job redesign and other funds to ease employers into hiring disabled workers. That means employers worried about additional costs when hiring disabled workers can apply for financial grants to send disabled employees for training and create a user-friendly workplace.

Any disabled person who is looking for a job or wish to attend skills upgrading courses can also apply for the ODP. Unemployed workers can refer to the Open Door Job Portal as well as apply for training grants and allowances during the training period.

Registration and posting of job vacancies is free on the SG Enable website. Employers and employees can register with SG Enable by calling 1800 8585 885. More information can be found at www.sgenable.sg in the ODP section.


Thoughts:

1. The government is doing its part to fund this mega project to help the disabled community in skills training, job placement and modification of the workplace. This seems to be a great push towards a greater inclusive society.
2. That said, one would ask if there has been enough publicity to the businesses to inform them on this scheme? 
3. Other than that, are there also relevant job positions that businesses can craft out to cater for the disabled worker too?

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

Something Small Thinking Big