Opening the door to employment for people with disabilities.

Vocational training and job creation help people with disabilities earn a stable income, open up opportunities for community integration, and affirm their self-worth. However, many obstacles still need to be removed before the "door" to employment truly opens for them.

The Binh Giang Women with Disabilities Cooperative is currently providing employment for 20 disabled workers.

Striving to rise

Born with disabilities, Ms. Vu Thi Que (born in 1964), residing in Nhuan Dong village (Duong An commune), persevered in learning tailoring, then opened a workshop and provided free training to others in similar circumstances. In 2020, she founded the Binh Giang Women with Disabilities Cooperative, creating jobs for 20 disabled workers in the local area and some neighboring places, with incomes ranging from 2 to 5 million VND per person per month. Besides teaching, Ms. Que also provides accommodation and introduces and assists some disabled trainees in finding work at garment factories in the area.

With the desire to support people with disabilities in finding stable employment, in 2015, Mr. Mac Van Hat, residing in Ai Quoc ward, established TH Tien Manh One-Member Limited Company, specializing in sewing office wear, school uniforms, and work safety clothing. He provides free vocational training to people with disabilities, employs them at his company, or introduces them to other garment and footwear export businesses.

However, the company faces numerous challenges due to market competition and unstable orders. At times, the company has had to temporarily cease operations, impacting the employment of people with disabilities. Mr. Hat proposed being recognized as a business employing people with disabilities to receive support in obtaining loans, improving production conditions, and enjoying preferential policies to expand production and business activities, thereby increasing income for people with disabilities.

The model of providing employment for people with disabilities is spreading in Hai Phong . The production and service enterprises run by blind people at 57 Hang Kenh Street (Le Chan Ward) and 21 Kien Thiet Street (Hong Bang Ward) have long been a support system for 50 blind or visually impaired workers. With massage and acupressure services, workers earn a decent income of 7-9 million VND per person per month and are provided with accommodation and meals. The total revenue for the first six months of 2025 for the two establishments reached 3.72 billion VND. Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, from Le Ich Moc Ward, formerly a manager at a large enterprise, lost his sight after an accident. He regained his faith in life after learning massage and acupressure and is now a highly skilled worker at the enterprise. Mr. Cuong said that with an income of over 10 million VND per month, he can cover his living expenses and become less dependent on his family.

According to the Hai Phong City Association of the Blind, there are currently more than 55 massage and traditional acupressure service establishments established by various levels of the association and its members, operating stably and creating jobs for nearly 500 disabled workers. The association is currently assisting 68 members in obtaining loans from the National Employment Fund totaling over 1.56 billion VND; and supporting 17 members in accessing loans from the Social Policy Bank totaling 1.34 billion VND to develop their businesses . This result partly reflects the continuous efforts of people with disabilities in seeking employment opportunities, rising out of poverty, and reducing the burden on their families and society.

The City Association for the Blind is opening a vocational training class in massage and acupressure for people with disabilities.

Give opportunities

Despite many positive developments, creating jobs for people with disabilities still faces numerous challenges. (Ms. Vu Thi Que, Chairperson of the Binh Disabled Women's Cooperative)

Giang said the sewing workshop is currently cramped, lacking and outdated equipment, while many people with disabilities need vocational training. She hopes to receive financial support to expand the workshop and create more job opportunities.

Furthermore, access to loans for people with disabilities is limited, and the level of support does not meet the needs for expanding production. Many people face difficulties in accessing capital due to a lack of collateral or complicated procedures. According to Dr. Dang Quang Trung (University of Labor and Social Affairs), social prejudice remains a major barrier, making many businesses hesitant to hire people with disabilities. In reality, they are perfectly capable of working effectively; they simply have too few opportunities to demonstrate their abilities.

Chairman of the City Association of the Blind, Hoang Van Son, believes that it is necessary to expand and encourage the sustainable development of cooperative and social enterprise models for people with disabilities, focusing on occupations suitable to their skills and health. In the future, the association will coordinate training to improve information technology skills and digital transformation in line with market demands for disabled workers. The association proposes that the city allow the use or lease of the former headquarters of the Hai Duong Provincial Association of the Blind as a vocational training center for disabled workers in the western region.

NGUYEN NGUYEN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/mo-canh-cua-viec-lam-cho-nguoi-khuyet-tat-521283.html