SINGAPORE: ITE graduates with disabilities participating in the Institute of Technical Education Work-Study Diploma Programme can approach SG Enable for employment support, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development Eric Chua in Parliament.
Responding to a question from Government Parliamentary Committee for Manpower chair Yeo Wan Ling, he outlined measures to help graduates with disabilities access suitable host companies under the programme.
Under the Work-Study Diploma Programme, trainees are hired as full-time employees by participating companies. They receive on-the-job training from employers alongside classroom instruction delivered by ITE.
Mr Chua said graduates with disabilities may seek support from SG Enable’s trained job coaches. These coaches help foster workplace integration and provide employers with practical advice on job redesign to better accommodate employees’ needs.
He added that SG Enable also connects inclusive employers interested in participating in the programme with ITE. The agency offers disability awareness training to employers to enhance their ability to support and integrate employees with disabilities.
Beyond SG Enable’s support, ITE works directly with employers to ensure that necessary arrangements are in place for trainees with disabilities.
Such measures may include providing step-by-step instructions for those who require more time to learn tasks at work, ensuring that workplace expectations are clearly communicated and manageable.
Yeo, also the Punggol GRC MP, noted that for many young persons with disabilities and their families, the Work-Study Diploma pathway provides a viable route towards secure and meaningful employment.
However, she highlighted that some individuals may require a longer timeframe to secure a suitable host organisation. This may be due to the need for job redesign or for workplaces to put inclusive employment practices in place.
She asked whether the Ministry would consider establishing and regularly updating a centralised repository of inclusive employers, such as companies recognised under SG Enable’s Enabling Mark, to support schools offering work-study and industrial attachment programmes.
Ms Yeo also asked if flexibility could be provided through extensions of programme deadlines for persons with disabilities who are unable to secure suitable host organisations within stipulated timelines, for reasons unrelated to their academic performance.
In response, Mr Chua said time extensions could be explored.
However, he stressed that the more critical priority is ensuring a “bespoke journey” for each student.
He said inclusive employment support is highly customised, requiring careful assessment of each student’s strengths, interests, motivations and potential career pathways.
Even if extensions are granted, he noted, success ultimately depends on matching individuals with roles that leverage their capabilities and aspirations.
Mr Chua assured the Government’s commitment to strengthening tailored support for persons with disabilities entering the workforce.
