Kuala Lumpur: The Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) through the Employment Committee of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (MKBOKU) has implemented various initiatives and strategies in an effort to increase access to employment for Persons with Disabilities (PwD). Deputy Minister of Human Resources Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad announced that from 2020 to December 31, 2024, a total of 70,566 job seekers among PwD, including participants in the Return To Work (RTW) programme, have successfully found employment.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the RTW programme is a disability management initiative aimed at helping contributors who are injured or have an illness to recover and return to work sooner, healthier, and safer. Abdul Rahman addressed this during a question and answer session at the Dewan Rakyat, responding to Datuk Adnan Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah), who inquired about strategies to assist the disabled in accessing appropriate employment amidst ongoing challenges of awareness, willingness, and confidence among employers.

Furthermore, Abdul Rahman highlighted that as of December last year, 1,915 PwDs had engaged in the Person With Disabilities (PWD) Development programmes, an initiative under the MADANI Training Programme designed to empower PwDs with basic skills through various courses.

KESUMA, through the Skills Development Department (JPK), has accredited 1,582 centres across Malaysia, with 922 of these centres accepting PwD trainees for skills training. Additionally, KESUMA, via the Manpower Department (JTM), has trained PwD students at the Manpower Department Training Institution (ILJTM), offering an allowance of RM300 per month and exemption from tuition fees.

During the period from 2020 to 2024, a total of 245 disabled students from various categories were trained at ILJTM in fields such as graphic design technology, electronic technology, and mechatronic technology.