January 5, 2024
The chief executive of a regional recruitment firm is commending the government of Jamaica on its efforts to ensure people with disabilities have access to job opportunities, noting that this demographic can often be overlooked in such efforts.
“Unfortunately, people with disabilities are not always considered when governments or other groups launch initiatives to help people get employed or connect them with jobs,” said Joseph Boll, CEO of Caribbean Employment Services Inc., a market-leading digital talent acquisition service that aims to connect the top talent from the Caribbean with hiring managers, HR professionals and decision-makers in companies both within the Caribbean as well as abroad.
“It’s commendable that the government is being proactive and inclusive in its efforts to secure gainful employment for citizens, and we look forward to their success in this endeavour.
“The more people that can secure formal employment and provide for themselves and their families, the better the standard of living will be for more people and the better the economy could be for everyone.”
Boll was referring to comments recently made by Minister of Labour & Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr., who was quoted by Jamaica Information Service as saying that the government is in talks with several Canadian employers to determine whether job opportunities could be available for Jamaicans with disabilities.
The CEO also noted that this is not the first time the Holness administration has set its sights on targeted employment opportunities for PWD, as last December it also launched the Enabling Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Project with financial support from the European Union.
“Marginalized groups often need more support in order to access equal opportunities, so we are always encouraged to see initiatives to support this and happy to assist businesses that are looking to be more inclusive in their hiring,” Boll said.