Business at the Pan Pacific Hotels Group has taken a significant hit from the coronavirus outbreak, but it remains committed to hiring people with disabilities.
It now has 26 staff with disabilities working in different roles, from housekeeping to administrative work, in four of its hotels and one service-suites facility here. Another nine people with disabilities are undergoing traineeship this year, instead of five as originally planned.
“It (business) is very bad. But we will still continue and not KIV this project (to hire people with disabilities). This is part of our long-term sustainability project. We believe they are part of us and we should give them the chance to earn a living.” said Ms Wee Wei Ling, Executive Director (Asset, Lifestyle and CSR).
During the downturn, the group is sending its staff – both able-bodied and those with disabilities – for training, tapping the Open Door Programme which encourages employers to hire people with disabilities through training grants and job support services, among other things.
For example, up to 90% of the course fees will be subsidised for firms which send staff for eligible training courses. From 1 July, the subsidy will increase to 95%.
The Government will provide a new Enabling Employment Credit, where employers will get help to offset up to 20% of the salary of an eligible staff member with disability, capped at $400 a month.
On Wednesday last week, President Halimah Yacob launched the President’s Challenge Enabling Employment Pledge and over 100 employers pledged to build a more inclusive workforce for those with disabilities. The President’s Office and the public service were the first signatories of the pledge, and others included the Pan Pacific Hotels Group.
Mr Danial Affandy, a 20-year-old who is intellectually disabled, has been working at the Pan Pacific Singapore since 2018, and he operates and maintains cleaning equipment. He went through a six-month training stint and enjoys working at the hotel.
He said: “My colleagues are very good and I like to earn money.”
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Source: The Straits Times, 19 March 2020