USAID Supports Employment for The Disabled

September 21, 2007

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in cooperation with the U.S. Organization Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The National Coordination Committee on Disability and the American Chamber of Commerce organized the first ever "Blue Ribbon Employment Council" today discuss strategies for promoting employment of people with disabilities. The Council, comprised of major international and Vietnamese employers, will work to develop, expand, and promote employment opportunities for the disabled.  These initiatives will include appropriate skill training for people with disabilities, and raising awareness of the benefits of hiring people with disabilities.

United States Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak spoke at the opening of the Council's meeting and cited research that shows employees with disabilities are as productive as their non disabled colleagues and less likely to change jobs once employed, thus saving their employers the high costs of retraining new staff.  "The Blue Ribbon Employer Council," he continued, "is in a position to take the lead and make the 'business case' for hiring people with disabilities in Vietnam."

Promoting Employment of Vietnam's disabled is just one part of the United States' $43 million dollars in assistance programs to help people with disabilities in Vietnam.