AL AIN - Government departments in Al Ain city as well as the rest of Abu Dhabi emirate avoid hiring graduates with special needs, particularly the deaf and dumb, according to officials at the Rehabilitation and Employment Centres for Disabled People (RECDP) in Al Ain.
Speaking to
Khaleej Times, RECDP Managing Director Ahmed Juma'a said government departments
and private sector companies have, in the past, promised on several occasions
that they would welcome RECDP graduates, but have failed to live up to
expectations.
He said that
the RECDP administration had sent letters to all government departments in the
emirate of Abu Dhabi seeking recruitment of the centre's graduates.
"They simply
ignored our letters. We received no reply from them," he complained.
"They make
promises in front of media representatives, but as soon as the event is over
they go back on their word on hiring the special needs graduates, who are
qualified," he pointed out.
He added that
under the UAE law, six per cent of positions in public and private sectors are
reserved for the special needs category.
Juma'a said
that officials of some government departments feel that special needs people are
not qualified, but that is not correct.
The Abu Dhabi
Police and the Interior Ministry had recruited 270 graduates from the RECDP over
the past few years, he stated.
"Our graduates
have proved that they are talented and well-trained," he added.
Juma'a said
there are 77 male and female RECDP graduates waiting for placements. They have
completed the rehabilitation programme, training programme, English programme
and muazzen (man who gives call for prayer) and Imam programme, skilled
vocational training courses and the employment programmes.
He said that
the RECDP had signed an agreement with the UAE Armed Forces in 2005 to hire 300
graduates.
"So far, the
UAE Armed Forces has recruited only eight graduates from our centres," he added.
Juma'a said
that the Emirates Bank Group had hired 15 RECDP graduates and the Ahmed Kanoo
Group had hired a number of special needs graduates.