RECOMMENDATION

1. Recruitment policy for disabled people

Government should urge that it compulsory for every employer to have a special employment
quota for people with disabilities. This is because the person with disabilities are the assets of
public and private sectors. Nowadays, the disabilities group often to faces with discrimination
issue especially when it comes to employment such as in applying and looking for a job. People
with disabilities should not be discriminated and they should be offered employment
opportunities like able-bodied people. Through this special quota it would help the disabled
person to lead a normal life and not be too dependent on government and community assistance.
As a citizen at this country, they have right to employment and the right to participate in all
aspect of life so, in 1989 the government announced that 1% of jobs in the public sector will
be reserved for people with disabilities. In 1990 the private sector was encouraged to do
likewise. Even though the incentives provided such as double tax deduction for the
employment of disabled workers in the private sector, the quota is far from being filled. There
are a lot of disabled people are still unemployed. Although some may not be able to hold down
jobs but there are large proportion can still work and contribute to society if given the
opportunity. Significant changes are needed in many areas to increase employment
opportunities for disabled people in Malaysia. In order to make employment for people with
disabilities a reality the following must happen immediately which is the rights of people with
disabilities to employment and the special needs should be taken into account through
supportive legislation, strong enforcement and active monitoring. To look into the
implementation of the 1% employment policy for people with disabilities in the public and
private sectors. There still have the employer and manager that do not want to employ disabled
people in their organization and company. A levy should be imposed on employers not
fulfilling the 1% employment quota for the disabled. Such moneys collected should be placed
in a fund to be administrated by the special placement department to be used to promote
employment opportunities for people with disabilities. It is recommended that the levy be
equivalent to the average salary multiplied by 1% of the total employment of the company.
Disabled people also have right to have equal opportunity to get job just like the other people.
So, advertisement offering job opportunities must be worded with special care to include
opportunities for disabled candidates. For instance, the sentence “people with disabilities are
welcome to apply” could be added.
Then, government actively organize program to open special job vacancy for people with
disabilities. For example, the Social Welfare Department (JKM), has organised program to
provide supported employment and job coaching to people with disabilities. JKM organized
Disabled Career Carnival to help disabled people find job. Through this program, JKM help
more disabled people to find job with the special quota that have provided. Over 150 job
opportunities were offered to the disabled by 15 companies, including Parkson, Sushi King,
McDonald’s, Harolds Bread, Mydin, Toto Malaysia, Klana Resort Seremban and the other
companies. International Trade and Industry Minister should encourage company and
organization to employ persons with disabilities because they are asset to public and private
sector. So, through the special quota and program that provided for disabilities group they may
have chance to have a job.

3. Educational and vocational training for disabled people

Entering the world of work is part of a major challenges to disabled people. Majority of
employer does not believe with the ability of the disabled people to work. It will be very
difficult for disabled people to fulfil the requirement of work that are requested if they do not
have skills and enough knowledge about the work. Currently, there are a lot of vocational
training centres run by government to provide the training needs for people with disabilities.
Through educational and vocational training that are provided for people with disabilities, it
helps these people to face the world of work with good quality education and training. The
problem arises when the exercise was not meeting the needs of employers. There are certain
programs taken by disabled people was not in line with the requirement and condition of work.
So, government should provide more courses that teach skill that are more relevant in term of
providing employment opportunities such as IT and accountancy. Nowadays, employer always
find and require people that have experienced and skill in work and it will possible for the
disabled people that have lack of skill to fulfil that requirement. So, government should
increase the number of training facilities and staff to create more training opportunities for
people with various types of disabilities including intellectual disability. The training courses
should be relevant and marketable according to current needs. The vocational training and
skills programmes conducted by the Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of Agriculture,
Ministry of Rural Development and Ministry of Youth and Sports should be made available to
disabled persons. This would foster integration and help equip disabled persons with skills to
enable them to be self-reliant. For example, Department of Social Welfare has set up an
Industrial Training and Rehabilitation Centre at Bangi, Selangor. The main purpose is to
provide services for physically disabled people with vocational training and medical
rehabilitation. The Bangi Industrial Training and Rehabilitation Centre should be developed
into a full-fledged institute offering a variety of courses that could contribute effectively
towards enhancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. People with
disabilities should be represented in the management of the centre. Employer also should give
opportunities for the disabled people to show their capability as they have various skills in
accordance with their disabilities. Through this industrial training, disabled people can easily
qualify the requirements and conditions of work and can find job based on the skill and
knowledge that they have. The other agency that provide training for disabilities people in
Malaysia is the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC). Mostly disabled people faced
a difficult situation in finding job because they do not know what to do and where to find the
job. So, ILTC will help disabled people to connect with the relevant agencies like JKM, Social
Security Organisation and the Health Ministry. Community-based Rehabilitation Center and
Sheltered Workshop (Bengkel Daya) also provide training for disabled people in Malaysia.
Through the educational and vocational training, they will have the opportunity to use the skills
gained either to get a job or to use the skills to engage in business and entrepreneurship.