Unlocking Potential: A Multinational Corporation Roundtable on Disability and Employment - Asia and the Pacific. Proceedings of the Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, 6 July 2005

The MNC Roundtable explored the business case for hiring people with disabilities and identified and discussed ways to overcome barriers that prevented disabl The MNC Roundtable had two major objectives:· To start a dialogue among stakeholders in the region, including multinational corporations, on how to stimulate the hiring of people with disabilities from the business case perspective; and,· To identify needs and action steps, regionally and nationally, that wouldcontribute to the training and hiring of workers with disabilities.The expected outcomes included:· Improved networking among stakeholders in the region;· Increased awareness among multinational companies about the business case for hiring disabled workers and the good practices of some companies;· Development of at least one or more partnerships that improve the training or hiring of people with disabilities at the national level;· Identification of good practice examples; and· Consensus about several action steps that the stakeholders and meetingorganizers can take to move the business case agenda forward in the region

Getting Hired: A Guide for Job-seekers with Disabilities

The ILO’s AbilityAsia programme has adapted this manual, Getting Hired: A Guide for Job-Seekers with Disabilities to help you. The guide is intended for individuals who are looking for salaried or paid employment in the formal sector. This means you probably live in a town or city. The guide can be used by individuals or groups, including organizations of individuals with disabilities. It can also be used on its own or as a part of a training workshop. Organizations of people with disabilities, placement agencies, non-governmental organizations and community organizations can also use the companion training manual Getting Hired: A Trainer’s Manual for Conducting a Workshop for Job-Seekers with Disabilities to deliver a workshop on this topic. While this guide has been prepared for adults with disabilities, the basic principles for finding a job and getting hired are the same for anyone. Non-disabled people may also find this book valuable. This guide may be useful to help you get full-time work, or part-time work while you are studying. People with disabilities are no longer viewed as requiring protection and care; they are seen as individuals who have rights, including the right to access training and employment. With preparation and training you can become a valued member of the workforce. This has been proven time and again, by businesses and employers who hire people with disabilities and keep track of their overall performance, productivity and safety records. Your right to meaningful work is guaranteed in a number of international instruments. Most recently the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention, which entered into force on 3 May 2008, is being signed and ratified by many countries around the world. The ILO Convention concerning Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons), 1983 (No. 159) promotes equal treatment and equal opportunity for people with disabilities in work and training situations. Many countries also have laws to protect the right of people with disabilities to engage in work. You should talk with a local organization of disabled persons to learn more about your human rights, your employment rights and how they are protected in your country. This guide provides some additional information on your rights but is primarily designed to help you build the practical skills you need to find a job. It is general and we hope that you will find it useful. However, each country is different and local job-seeking practices may vary; therefore you should ask for information from local leaders and employment specialists and follow the accepted methods in your country. The ILO encourages you to seek the job you desire and to advance yourself and your community through active participation. We wish you success in your job search and hope you find meaningful work in line with your goals