Able to work

Business Times, Monday, 5th Mar 2012

Have services and opportunities for workers with disabilities in Singapore become better or worse over the past couple of years? What more needs to be done?

BY and large, accessibility for people with disabilities has been enhanced over the past few years. However, this group is still largely under-catered for.

A prime example of this was the recent news that the London cab service – the only cabs able to fit a large wheelchair – was going to be halted. But after objections from wheelchair users, their licences will now be extended for another year. Clearly, there needs to be greater improvements in transport accessibility for this group.

Companies with career opportunities that can be performed by people with disabilities may either not want to hire such people or would already have them in their employ. Government incentives may help to motivate those in the first category while those in the second group should be ‘rewarded’ even more should any incentives be offered. As we move towards becoming a more egalitarian society, more certainly needs to be done to address this issue. The first step is to enhance awareness.

Ronald Lee
Managing Director
PrimeStaff Management Services Pte Ltd