110 people with disabilities get employment thru job fair

In a noble gesture, a total of 110 persons with disabilities were employed in a job fair held at Krishibid Institute Bangladesh in the capital on Saturday.

ILO-supported Bangladesh Business Disability Network (BBDN), a voluntary group of representatives from business, non-governmental and disabled peoples, organised the event to help people with disabilities to find decent work and for employers to recruit staff with disabilities.

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, reports BSS.

“A total of 232 persons with disabilities aspired for the jobs. Among them 110 persons with a range of impairment successfully availed employment from the event,” Communication Officer of ILO Bangladesh Farhana Alam told BSS.

Recruiting managers from Babylon group, Fakir Apparels Ltd, Vintage Denim, DBL Group and Esquire Group recruited disabled jobseekers from the fair, said an ILO press release.

While addressing the inaugural ceremony of the fair, Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator (SDG), Prime Minister’s Office stipulated, “Since the government is working to achieve the SDG goal in its all capacities and no one should be left behind to achieve the goal. This kind of job fair is highly motivating for the persons with disabilities.’

BBDN and Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF) also organised an award giving ceremony for promoting disability inclusion in the industries and thus encouraging inclusiveness and change in mind set.

The companies awarded at this occasion include Square Group, Akhter Group, VIYELLATEX group, Urmi Group, DBL group, Picard Bangladesh, Vintage Denim, Swapno and the Chittagong and Sylhet Chamber of Commerce.

Speakers at the programme said that this was a meticulous initiative to encourage and motivate employers to make their work place inclusive and disability friendly.

ILO Country Director for Bangladesh, Tuomo Poitiainen, said, “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.”