A scheme to find jobs for women with disabilities aims to place its first candidates in work in the next three months.
The We Can initiative will provide training for 383 female candidates – with the first 25 scheduled to commence employment in June.
Their salaries will initially be subsidised by the government to encourage companies to hire them.
There are also plans to extend the scheme to include men suffering from disabilities, allowing them to also become self-sufficient.
Training is provided by the Seed Training Centre and certified by the UK-based Highfield Award Body for Compliance (HABC).
“We conduct placement tests to ensure those selected meet the needs of companies that give us the go-ahead to train Bahrainis with physical disabilities for front office jobs,” said scheme manager Malak Al Haddad.
“At the moment, we have women with physical disabilities training with us at the Awal Women Society in Arad.
“We hope the first batch of 25 women will take up jobs by June, with salaries initially supported 70 per cent by Tamkeen, then 50pc and later on 30pc – before the full wage is covered by the employers.
“We have just started and are evaluating the scheme to ensure more jobless Bahrainis with disabilities are recruited.
“The original list of 383 candidates is only women, but we have been informed that more will be added – as we have asked for men’s names as well.
“Training can’t start without getting approval from a company willing to accept someone with a physical disability for front office work, mainly customer service.”
She outlined details of the programme – overseen by the Labour and Social Development Ministry and Tamkeen – yesterday to members of the Southern Municipal Council.
Municipal councillor Abdulla Ibrahim stressed that candidates should be prepared mentally to enter the workplace.
“People with disabilities, who have strong will and determination, tend to be sensitive and fragile,” he said.
“They could be hurt by rude people seeking services.
“They have to be provided with psychiatric assistance to enable them to deal with such cases.
“We want those individuals to stay in the job for years and have to ensure that they are provided with necessary training and education in every aspect.”
Meanwhile, councillor Malallah Shaheen expressed concern that candidates could be let go by employers once the government salary subsidy expires.
Commitment
“Employers should make a commitment to integrate people with disabilities by assigning desk jobs within their capabilities and provide every help possible for them to succeed,” he said.
“There are fears those employees will be let go after financial support from Tamkeen ends. There should be guarantees that this won’t be the case.”
Seed Training Centre projects director Ammar Almarzooq said such suggestions would be taken on board.
“We are speaking about employees who will be seen at front desks, not locked in offices, and companies know beforehand who they are taking on,” he said.
“Again, job assessment is left to the company. They should determine if the employee contributes to development in the work environment or not – regardless of their disabilities.
He added progress reports would be provided to municipal councils.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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