As per data from the Social Welfare Department, the number of special needs people with jobs is still low in Malaysia, standing at just 0.31% of the workforce.

Negri Sembilan Women’s Affairs, Family and Welfare Committee chairman Nicole Tan Lee Koon also added that a survey of the state undertaken by the department found that only 99 workers with special needs were employed in the civil service, including 73 by the federal government.

She urged all government agencies, departments and local authorities as well as the private sector to comply with the policy requiring that at least 1% of the workforce comprises people with special needs.

Tan was speaking at the state-level work carnival for special needs people. Jointly organized by the Negri Sembilan Social Welfare Department and JobsMalaysia’s centre in the state, the event was aimed at connecting employers with job seekers, offering about 800 job opportunities and featuring 17 employers.

In her address, Tan revealed that there are 23,846 people with special needs in Ngeri Sembilan state currently registered with the department, and out of this, 1,382 registrations were conducted between January and July this year.

It is to be remembered that Malaysia had ratified the Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities on July 19, 2010 as part of its commitment towards ensuring special needs people are able to equally enjoy the opportunities experienced by able-bodied people, in all aspects of life. To honor this commitment, in 2012, Malaysia adopted the Incheon Strategy to ‘Make the Right Real’ for persons with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. The initiative aimed at reducing poverty and improving employment prospects among such persons. 

Inclusion is an important policy for progress for organizations and nations alike. And it is necessary for governments to push inclusion agenda in a nation’s interest. The current statistics show that while efforts are being made in Malaysia, yet the tally is still lower than the set target.