Dole offers incentive to firms hiring PWDs

INCLUSIVE JOB MARKET Vincent Cruz (in wheelchair), a graduate of human resource management, joins the queue to register at the job fair held for persons with disabilities (PWDs) at the Quezon City Hall on Wednesday. Behind him is his mother, Monette. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

An incentive awaits companies that will hire more persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Secretary Silvestre Bello III of the Department of the Labor and Employment (Dole) said such companies would be granted a yearlong “immunity from inspections” that routinely check their compliance with labor laws.

“If you would hire PWDs and they constitute not less than 10 percent of your total compliment, I will give you immunity from inspection for one year. We will not bother you,” Bello said on Wednesday, addressing an audience composed mostly of employers or personnel managers taking part in a job fair exclusively held for PWDs.

The one-day fair was held by Dole at the Quezon City Hall in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of District 3830.

Bello explained though that the one-year immunity doesn’t necessarily mean that these companies would no longer be charged if later found to be in violation of labor laws.

Under Republic Act No. 10524, which expanded the positions reserved for PWDs, government offices and private companies with more than 100 employees are required to set aside at least 1 percent of their job slots to qualified PWDs.

As of noon on Wednesday, the job fair had attracted over 400 PWD applicants, with at least six of them hired on the spot, the Dole said.

Apart from the fair, the event also featured livelihood and skills training sessions in line with the government’s celebration of International Day for PWDs. —Jovic Yee