NCBM Press Statement to Promote Equal Access to Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities

On May 1, AGENDA partner the National Council for the Blind Malaysia (NCBM) issued a press statement to promote equal access to decent work for persons with disabilities. NCBM highlighted the lack of reliable statistics on employees with disabilities in the private sector and stated that there is insufficient data on cases filed by persons with disabilities who faced discrimination from employers. NCBM called upon the Malaysian government to review and report the progress of the Malaysia Plan of Action for People with Disabilities 2016-2022 and ensure the progress report is publicly available for all stakeholders. NCBM also encouraged the government to amend the Labour Act of 1955 to be aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Among other recommendations, NCBM called for the establishment of a division under the Malaysian Ministry of Human Resources responsible for ensuring access and equity for persons with disabilities in the employment sector. NCBM also encouraged the government to collaborate with organizations representing persons with disabilities to develop and implement a comprehensive strategic framework regarding access to decent work for persons with disabilities. To amplify its message, NCBM referred to the Enabling Masterplan’s action points that reiterate the provision of employment opportunities and equal access to decent work for persons with disabilities such as AEC 1, AEC 2, AEC 4, AEC 21, AEC 24, ASCC 8, ASCC 25 and ASCC 27. The press statement was published by The Star, an English-language newspaper in Malaysia, and also posted on NCBM’s Facebook Page.