Page 16 - Mainstreamer e-Magazine Volume 5, April 2024

HERE AND THERE: POLICY TOUCHPOINT
Improve the Employment for People With Disabilities – Empowering Lives

Thunravee
Peneakchanasak

he Department of Empowerment of Persons process. This involves:
with Disabilities (DEP) highlights Thailand’s 1. Crafting Inclusive Job Descriptions: Ensure
Tprogress towards greater inclusivity. job descriptions focus on the skills required
Over the past year, the Ministry of Labor’s rather than physical abilities that may exclude
Social Employment Promotion for Persons with people with disabilities. Avoid specifying
Disabilities witnessed an encouraging uptake in the unnecessary physical requirements, such as
Outsourcing Service category. Approximately 500 weight lifting, unless they are crucial to the
companies participated, offering opportunities and job.
benefits to over 4,100 individuals with disabilities 2. Enhancing Application Accessibility: Provide
or their caregivers. This initiative empowered lives job application materials in various formats,
and significantly boosted the annual income for such as Braille, audio, and digital formats
people with disabilities (PWDs), exceeding 493 compatible with screen readers, to ensure
million baht. that candidates with visual or hearing
Despite these achievements, the DEP reported impairments can access them.
that around 10% of the 850,000 working-age 3. Training Interviewers: Conduct training
people with disabilities in Thailand remain sessions for interviewers to address
unemployed. Many of these individuals still face unconscious bias and disability etiquette.
substantial challenges, including financial burdens This helps to prevent discriminatory practices
that affect their and their families’ quality of and ensures that the hiring process is
life. Feelings of worthlessness and isolation are respectful and considerate of all candidates.
common, which exacerbate mental health issues.
Furthermore, a lack of opportunities for skill 4. Facilitating Accommodations During
development restricts their potential, resulting Interviews: Offer reasonable
in a loss of valuable talent for the nation. Legal accommodations during interviews, such
obstacles also persist, leaving many vulnerable and as extra time for those who require it, the
without access to essential services. presence of interpreters, or alternative
This manuscript aims to bridge the existing seating arrangements, to create a fair and
accessible interview environment.
gaps by providing a comprehensive guide to
hiring people with differing abilities in Thailand. For instance, in the United States and Canada,
It will explore the unique advantages of a diverse strong legislation such as the Americans with
workforce, debunk common misconceptions, Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination
and offer practical strategies for implementing an against qualified individuals with disabilities in
inclusive hiring process. Addressing various factors all employment practices, including hiring [Equal
to improve employment opportunities for PWDs Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)].
is essential for building a more inclusive society
where everyone can contribute and thrive. Building an Accessible Workplace:
To effectively attract and retain talented Employers sometimes hesitate to hire individuals
individuals with disabilities, companies can adopt a with disabilities due to misconceptions about
multifaceted approach to create an inclusive hiring

15 April 2024 | Vol. 5