In their efforts to implement a program to support people with disabilities in Da Nang for the 2021-2030 period, local relevant agencies and authorities at local level are focusing on providing vocational training and livelihood support for them, thereby facilitating them to find a suitable job, and get access to bank loan in a bid to assist them to improve their living conditions, and integrate into the community.

People with disabilities attending a training course in sewing at the Da Nang-based industrial sewing factory for disabled workers. Photo: QUOC CUONG

Having a stable job and a steady income are the key factors that contribute to empowering individuals with disabilities to be self-reliant and participate in society. Therefore, local relevant agencies and authorities at local level have adopted practical and appropriate solutions to provide employment opportunities and essential skills for financial independence for individuals.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thai, a resident of Hoa Xuan Ward, Cam Le District, was born with strong legs but with a speech impairment. However, he did not not want to be a burden on his family, he used a loan support valued at VND 5 million to work as a lottery ticket seller. As a result, Mr. Thai can earn around VND 100,000 per day from selling lottery tickets to cover his living expenses after deducting the cost of buying lottery tickets from a lottery sales agent.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tran Dinh Thien, a resident of Hoa Xuan Ward, has a mobility impairment with leg cramps that makes walking difficult. However, not surrendering to fate, Mr. Thien used a loan support valued at VND 5 million to open his coffee shop at home in early 2023. A period after opening his coffee shop, Mr. Thien has collected back the money invested in the shop, and gained a profit to cover his living expenses.

"The city’s support policy for people with disabilities to facilitate them to get an interest-free loan which is considered to be a valuable livelihood support for me to assist me to generate income to allow me to support my family and care for myself," Mr. Thien shared.

According to the Cam Le District Branch of the Da Nang Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, focus is paid on identifying the needs of individuals with disabilities every year to provide timely support for them in efforts to effectively implement the Employment Support Program for the 2021-2025 period and support policies for the disabled to help them increase their economic independence through suitable jobs

Since the start of 2023, Cam Le District has asked the Da Nang Association of People with Disabilities to help 8 individuals get an interest-free loan valued at VND 5 million to open a coffee shop or a grocery store, as well as sell products online and lottery tickets, or start a business in order to help them generate income to improve their living conditions.

According to the Da Nang Association of People with Disabilities, as of October 2023, the association's revolving fund had offered interest-free loans to 44 persons with disabilities to start a business with a 12-month loan of VND 5 million. In addition, the Municipal Association of People with Disabilities has called on Vingroup’s Thien Tam Fund to provide livelihood support totalling VND 50 million for 9 individuals with disabilities from poor and near-poor households .

Apart from providing loan and livelihood support for persons with disabilities, authorities at local level have also implemented their employment support programme for these people. Nineteen year-old Nguyen Dang Viet Tai, a resident of Hoa Tho Dong Ward, Cam Le District is a typical example. He was employed in March 2023 by a Yarn Factory of Hoa Tho Textile-Garment Corporation under the Cam Le District’s the employment support programme.

With the support from the company’s leaders, Tai gradually got used to his job, overcame his difficulties to fulfill his assigned tasks, and he now earns a stable income from his job.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc, a resident of Hoa An Ward, Cam Le District, has been hired by a company in Hoa Khanh Industrial Park located in Lien Chieu District with a monthly salary of VND 6 million.

Since the beginning of the year, the Hoa Vang District has supported 2 individuals to offer bonsai care service and provide help at home with housework care with an average monthly income of VND 5 million.

Mr. Truong Cong Nghiem, the Chairman of the Da Nang Association of People with Disabilities, said that the Association helped 24 individuals find a suitable job and facilitated 6 others to get access to vocational training in the first 9 months of 2023.

Rubbersoul Vietnam Company Limited located in the Hoa Khanh Industrial Park is a typical business in Da Nang that accepts disabled workers. The company has till date employed 27 disabled workers.

To create the most favorable conditions for persons with disabilities to access employment opportunities, the company opened a new office in late May 2023 to offer more than 30 job positions for them while the new office is located on the ground floor to help disabled employees make their move as easy as possible.

Mr. Phan Minh Ca, the Chairman of Rubbersoul Vietnam Company's Trade Union Organisation, said that the company always creates the most favorable conditions for persons with disabilities to access employment opportunities suitable to their ability and health condition in an attempt to help them earn income and stabilize their lives.

Furthermore, the city has paid special attention to providing vocational training for young people with disabilities. In 2020, the Da Nang Association for the Support of People with Disabilities and Orphans opened an Industrial Sewing Factory for disabled workers located on Hoang Van Thai Street, Lien Chieu District.

Mr. Ho Thu, the Factory’s Manager, said that the Factory is offering free vocational training to people with disabilities, as well as providing free accommodation for them while attending their vocational training courses.

During their vocational training course, people with disabilities will be provided with the opportunity to learn how to sew products ranging from simple items, including car cleaning wipes to high-end ones such as jackets, T-shirts, and women's vests. After graduating from their vocational training course, persons with disabilities will be provided with employment support to allow them to work at clothing companies based in the city to help them earn a stable income.

Since its establishment in 2020, the Industrial Sewing Factory for disabled workers has provided vocational training for more than 20 individuals with disabilities in order to help them have a stable job and steady income, thereby empowering them to rise up and raising their confidence to integrate into their communities.

Reporting by LAM PHUONG – translating by H.L