Pattaya’s Redemptorist Vocational School has inked an agreement with the government and private companies to create more jobs for the disabled.
Rev. Michael Picharn Jaiseri, vice president of the Father Ray Foundation, signed the memorandum of understanding with Sumet Mahosot, deputy director of the Education Department in the Ministry of Labor; Ruangwet Withawaskanwet, assistant managing director of Central Retail Corp.; and Mongkol Kasemsant Na Ayuthaya, director of Social Enterprise Aug. 18.
Central Food Retail Co. has signed a contract to financially support the Redemptorist Foundation in preparing and installing recycling and managing waste machinery worth 625,415 baht at the Foundation.
(L to R) Wittaya Kunplome, Father Michael Picharn Jaiseri, Father Pattarapong Srivorakul, Ruangwet Withawaskanwet, Phatcharee Phronantarat, and Mongkol Kasemsant Na Ayuthaya, during the signing ceremony.
Central Food Retail Co. also has signed with the Redemptorist Foundation to prepare or supply 70,000 kg of shredded paper worth 542,500 baht. Both contracts are aimed at creating jobs for the disabled and bring more income to the foundation.
“The disabled can work as a force pushing the economy but it is evident that of the 90,000 disabled in the country, only 10,000 are ready to work,” Sumet said. “The others are hindered by travelling issues, over-protective parents not allowing them to work, and employers who still believe that the disabled are liabilities.”
The Ministry of Labor, he said, is working to change this through legislation that requires 1 percent of a company’s workforce to be disabled, subsidy programs and job training.
Earlier in the month the ministry and Tesco Lotus department stores organized meetings with disabled prospective employees in 15 areas around Bangkok. More are expected around the country, he said.
Jaiseri said the agreement will help the foundation in training disabled students for jobs in call centers, coffee shops, garbage dumps, hospitality services, bakeries, and information technology.
“I believe the cooperation with Redemptorist Foundation will become a prototype for social activities, regarding the quality of life of the disabled, to become the main organization in pushing for projects with other public networks of the society to continue pushing for beneficial activities for disabled to, again, develop and elevate the lifestyles for the disabled to have an equal opportunity at life with normal people of the society,” Mongkol said.
Ruangwet said his company, “has become a part of supporting employment for the disabled such as building an electronic appliances repair center, training on creating things from unused materials, etc.”
“In the past, the company has always created opportunities for the disabled to work. It all depends on the readiness of the disabled but we still cannot look for disabled individuals to work according to the Support and Development of Disabled Lives Act, which requires companies have 300 disabled as employees, and I believe that this signing ceremony will benefit the disabled people’s readiness in employment according to their personal skills.”
