The employment opportunities for people with disabilities have greatly improved over the past decade. Recent new laws introduced by the present and previous governments have given people with disabilities the chance to join the workforce as equals, free from discrimination and prejudice.
Current employment law states that every company employing more than one hundred workers must employ a person with a disability. Today people with a disability can be seen working in shops, hotels and factories and not just in companies employing more than one hundred workers.
Several students from the vocational school also attended the seminar.
Fear and a misunderstanding of those who are seemed to be different to others was the main reason why companies in the past refused to employ anyone with a disability. This improvement in the opinions of the general public and national government is due in part to the continuous lobbying by the Pattaya based Redemptorist Foundation for People with Disabilities.
A sign language translator was on hand to assist the deaf delegates.
A recent two-day seminar, organized by the Foundation, was held to prepare people with disabilities who wish to work for the government.
Those working in the various government departments, either at a local or national level, are entitled to benefits including a high salary, a pension and health care benefits for the worker and their family that are not always found in the private sector.
Ussa Hongkanchana, director of the National Office of Empowerment of People with Disabilities, addressed the seminar, which included participants from throughout Chonburi and from as far away as Chiang Rai in the north and the southern provinces, most of whom were representing their local support groups.
As Thailand, and in particular potential employers, becomes more aware of the abilities of people with disabilities they will realize that having a disability does not always mean a person is disabled.
Ussa prepared those wishing to work for the many government departments.
The delegates came from all over Thailand.
