The Labour Ministry has launched an employment promotion programme for people with disabilities to improve their quality of life.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said he has assigned Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin to create more job opportunities for the disabled to improve their lives, reduce social inequality, give them more access to state benefits and help them make a living.
Yesterday, the Employment Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the project with seven leading companies.
The seven companies -- Adecco, Italian-Thai Development, Guardforce Security, Bangkok Expressway and Metro, Huawei Technology, Chairatchakarn Group and Ek-Chai Distribution -- have 329 vacancies in total for people with disabilities, according to the MoU.
Mr Suchart said that, in accordance with local labour law, companies with over 100 employees must hire at least one person with a disability. If they are unable to do that, they must contribute 114,245 baht annually to a special fund. The fund, already worth in excess of 800 million baht a year, is aimed at supporting employers but offers no direct benefits for disabled people.
Private companies have guaranteed 568 positions for people with disabilities, including 329 from the seven aforementioned firms. All of the job contracts will be ready by the end of the year, Mr Suchart said.
The Employment Department has been pushing for such contracts to give disabled people more job security.
Currently, 568 vacancies have been sought, with 1,285 disabled people registering to join the programme and 1,128 state offices on board. The department has set a target of filling 1,000 positions.