WILLEMSTAD - The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in any given country 10 to 15% of the population has some sort of disability, in Holland persons with disabilities have by law equal access to employment, education, air travel & other different transportation, housing, goods and services, access to public buildings, information, communications, health care, and judicial system & due to the expected decline in the working-age population in European countries, people with disabilities are now more often recognized in the workforce but that is not the case in Curacao, although discrimination is illegal, there is an urgent need for more specific laws prohibiting it, persons with disabilities have to rely on ad hoc measures by government to access buildings & parking spots,the struggle for them is real in every aspect of the daily life.
From this perspective the Ministry of Labor SOAW of Curacao, on February the 10th 2020, initiated its pioneer project for disabled people, granting 6 of them the opportunity to form a part of the general working force in Curacao and to contribute to a better wellbeing, vast experience, and additional working skills, these jobs were offered in accommodation with their physical requirements.
The designated workers will perform their duties during a period of 6 months at SOAW to be evaluated at the end, this consists of among others, providing people with basic information, communicating with clients, connecting people with the right person, also they will receive intensive training on-premises to make sure work is executed in a timely and efficient manner, their working environment is adapted to their needs especially to those using a wheelchair.
One of the participants is a beautiful lady, her name is Kethlyn, she is 47 years old, I asked her few questions about her first day at SOAW, she was kind enough to let me know that it went very good, although it is not her first job as an operator, she felt very motivated, after a long time at home doing nothing she was alive again, she doesn’t feel useless anymore, it is true that she has a chronic disease but for her 1 disability can come with 100 ability, she is working in a friendly environment and she wishes from all her heart that there will be more projects like this in the future, the last thing she added was that she feels stronger and independent because she has an income, she wants to save money for later on so she doesn’t depend on anybody. We can build a lot on this strong message, Minister Hensley Koeiman of SOAW was very satisfied, he had the honor, privilege, and capability to offer these people the opportunity to prove to themselves and to others that they can perform like any other normal worker, that they are not isolated anymore, and that they can contribute in a way or another to the society. This initiative was launched in the presence of Alton Paas Foundation and Handicaps Rights foundation hoping that this pioneering project will open the way to similar projects in other ministries and private companies.
Curacao must recognize those people as a valuable resource and demonstrate how inclusive it can be for people living with disabilities who are entitled to enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.