BANGKOK – The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is urging government agencies and the private sector to hasten the hiring of more people with disabilities, as the government aims to double the number of disabled people in real employment by the year 2018.
Anusree Tubsuwan, spokesman for the Minister of Social Development and Human Security, along with deputy spokesperson Usanee Kangwanjit and Director General of the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Somchai Charoen-Amnuaysuk recently attended a joint press conference on the social initiative.
Mr Somchai revealed that 13,259 businesses have hired a total of 57,122 employees with disabilities out of an identified 61,441, as part of a legal requirement to hire one disabled employee for every 100 able bodied employees.
In addition, 290 government agencies are required to hire a total of 16,123 disabled employees. However, government agencies have so far only hired 2,097. Mr Somchai says the country must increase these numbers by 2018.
As for disabled individuals who wish to start their own businesses, the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities will provide a 60,000 Baht interest-free loan to be paid off within 5 years.
