Today, Tuesday, at the “Al-Amal” Center for Special Education in Mafraq, the General Union of Charitable Societies organized a symposium entitled “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Work and Employment,” within the framework of the “Economic Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups” project implemented by the Union and the French “Expertise” Organization in partnership with the Ministry of Charitable Societies. Social development under the umbrella of the “Social Protection in Jordan” project funded by the European Union.
Director of the Economic Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups Project, Maher Abda, said that the project aims to economically empower women, youth and people with disabilities by providing them with vocational training and skills needed by the labor market to help them support themselves and their families and enhance social protection to integrate them into society.
Shatha Qutaishat, Director of Projects at the Union, stressed the importance of these awareness meetings to introduce the rights of people with disabilities, integrate them into society, and provide a suitable environment for them, noting that the Union is keen to support projects implemented by associations to carry out their charitable, voluntary, humanitarian and social role towards their local communities. Mafraq Labor Director Ayman Al Khawaldeh presented the role of the Ministry of Labor in enforcing the law and monitoring establishments in terms of its commitment to employing the minimum number of people with disabilities at a rate of 4 percent according to the current law.
The Director of the Vocational Training Institute in Mafraq, Engineer Muhammad Al-Khalidi, pointed to the diversity of training courses offered by the Institute, and its acceptance of trainees with disabilities and providing them with support.
He pointed out that the project, which is being implemented with funding from the Supreme Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, includes constructing elevators and building suitable infrastructure for the use of persons with disabilities within the vocational training center in Mafraq.
The President of the Mafraq Union, Madallah Al-Khalidi, appreciated the General Federation of Associations’ support for the unions in the governorates, in implementing activities, programmes, initiatives and projects to advance the unions and help the people of the local community.
Rezan Al-Kurdi from the Supreme Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities referred to Jordanian legislation in the field of protecting the right of people with disabilities to work and employment, and its contribution to protecting and supporting them.
A faculty member at Al al-Bayt University, Dr. Ihsan Al-Khalidi, presented the challenges facing training and employment support, such as lack of funding, a culture of shame, and other practical challenges that hinder the implementation of existing legislation.
At the end of the symposium, a dialogue took place about the importance of these seminars and projects for people with disabilities.