Call for greater awareness of disabled in the industry

Awareness and employment of people with disabilities in mainstream South Africa has been slow, despite legislation to the contrary. According to Samantha Konkol, owner and director of Konkol and Associates, a recruitment agency specialising in the clearing forwarding, airline cargo handling and shipping industry, more and more companies are coming on board and employing people with disabilities ensuring real progress is made. “We have just successfully placed the first-ever matriculant into a learnership in the industry and are very proud of this achievement,” she said. “He is dyslexic and has also been diagnosed with ADHD. The four-year learnership will see him covering every aspect of the clearing and forwarding industry.” “Many companies have shied away from employing people with disabilities as it often involves having to purchase special equipment which can be costly. It is important that we create awareness in our industry about employing disabled people and the importance of doing so.” It is for this reason that Konkol and Associates is encouraging companies to take part in this year’s “Take a disabled matriculant to work” campaign. “As part of our social corporate responsibility programme we work closely with matriculants who are disabled by taking the time to show them how they can actively engage with the job market and find work.”