The Partners

Sole Disabled Person’s Organisation in the Lao PDR

Established in 1990 Membership of more than 3,000 people with disabilities (PWD)

Operates in 10 of 17 provinces Close links with the National Committee for Disabled Persons within the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare

International NGO working to prevent and limit the impact of disabilities

Established in 1986, started work in the Lao PDR in 1996

Supports PWD, their families and communities to achieve autonomy and social integration for PWD

Has projects the areas of UXO, Community Based Rehabilitation and Road Safety

People with Disabilities in the Lao

PDR

National Census 2005 Data

There are more than 70,000 PWD in the Lao PDR

25% of PWD in the Lao PDR are in Vientiane, Vientiane Capital and Savannakhet target provinces of this project) and provinces with a significant amount of private sector activity

Rights and Legal

Framework

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

signed by Lao Government

Government of Lao PDR isdrafting a Disability Rights Decree

Lao PDR constitution alreadyGuarantees the equality of all Lao

citizens

The Project

Purpose

To support PWD to overcome barriers to

employment and to Have better access to

employment

The project is: Market oriented Focused on economic and social benefits for both Employers and PWD

The project will: Inform PWD about suitable job vacancies and assist them in applying for jobs

Provide employers with motivated, reliable and qualified candidates for vacancies

Support PWD and employers to ensure that PWD employees play a full role in the economic success of businesses

people with disabilities are willing and able towork, they face barriers to this:

Lack of information on employment opportunities and employer needs

Lack of employer awareness of the ability of PWD to meet the needs of most jobs

Physical barriers to the workplace, many can be removed with skilled advice and support, such as that available from this project

Limited education and experience opportunities, especially for women

Barriers to Employment

Access to employment is a pressing need

for PWD and many are motivated and able

to work

research by International Labour Organisation concludes that hiring

workers with disabilities positivelyImpacts upon companies because:

Why Employ PWD?

PWD are motivated and reliable and perform well in terms of productivity, safety, and attendance

PWD are more likely to stay in the job and can reduce the costs of job turnover

Employing PWD increases morale in the workplace

PWD are a resource of skills and talents with strong skills developed in daily life

Employment empowers PWD and encourages social equality and self-reliance

a number of free services are offered by the project:

The identification of suitable candidates (in a timely and professional manner) for consideration for vacancies

Support to ensure that vacancies are accessible to PWD

Marketing and promotion of model businesses supporting employment for PWD

Awareness raising for staff on the importance of providing employment opportunities for all

Support for Your Business

What Do We Need from You?To ensure the project meets the needs of yourbusiness, we need to better understand yourbusiness. To do this, we want to:

Interview you Interview the person responsible forrecruitment Interview some of your workers Look at the access to your workplace for PWD

The project is keen to minimise the interruption to

your business and any suggestions you have as tohow we could best do that are welcome.