VietNamNet Bridge – A network of hospital rehabilitation centres, vocational training centres and potential employers has been set up in the city in the hope of finding permanent work for the disabled.

Nguyen The Hung, deputy director of Ha Noi's Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Department, said 10,000 out of the 90,000 disabled people wanted to earn their own living, but found it hard to overcome society's discrimination.

Hung said the network, which was inaugurated on Wednesday, would serve as a fishing rod to help them find a stable life.

Nguyen Duc Thang, the head of Employment Department under Ha Noi Employment Introduction Centre (HEIC) claimed it would enable handicapped people aged between 16 and 50 to receive consultancy and health services, go through a rehabilitation process and participate in job-skill training courses.

This would be followed by a recruitment process through the network. As Thang said: "The vocational rehabilitation process aims at enabling people with functional impairments to overcome barriers to accessing, maintaining or returning to employment.

"Employers will not favour disabled people when they apply for jobs, but employ them solely on their ability to meet all the requirements of working positions."

So far, nearly 20 orthopaedic and rehabilitation centres, vocational training schools and enterprises in the fields of information technology, real estate, hand-craft production and food processing have been involved in the network.

However, disabled people have some concerns about the feasibility of the network which, according to them, has yet to reach their real expectations and demands.

Trinh Cong Thanh, chairman of Ha Noi's Disabled Youth Association said the network was set up "based on what they think useful for us, not what we think".

"Handicapped people have abilities to do intellectual work, not just manual labour. We can take part in any sector employing normal people can. It is necessary to open door to us in more sectors and agencies, such as State agencies."

Nguyen Quang Ha, 35, who has a crippled foot, has more than 20-years experience looking for jobs.

He shows little interest in the network because it does little to influence employers.

He said even when the handicapped proved their excellent working efficiency, they still received lower salaries and were discriminated against.

Robert Horvath of Viet Nam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH) said more people with disabilities should be made aware of the programme at district and commune level.

He said capacity-building courses were being offered to officers working in the programme.

According to the experts, the new network will be used as a model for the ministry's employment department to draft a national project of vocational rehabilitation for the disabled.

They agreed that the project, when being implemented, should involve the participation of more enterprises.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News