An applicant with a hearing disability is helped by a sign language translator during the interview at the Job Fair.

The Employers’ Network on Disability of the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) successfully organised a pre-screening of disabled jobseekers for suitable jobs last week at the head office of John Keells Holdings (JKH) in Colombo.

The event drew a group of about 41 individuals, with speech, auditory, visual and physical disabilities, JKH said in a statement. Applicants brought in their resumés and were interviewed by HR personnel from JKH, ID Lanka Ltd and MAS Holdings Ltd. Initiated in 1999 in accordance with EFC’s vision, ‘Social harmony through productive employment’, the Employers’ Network on Disability comprises a group of 31 organisations that work towards organizing activities to create and enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Sri Lanka.

Their initiatives include setting up a database of resumés of disabled persons that are circulated amongst prospective employers; training disabled job seekers in employable skills, organising job fairs for the disabled; encouraging employers, both within the network and without, to create chances for disabled persons in their organisations as well as encouraging goods and service providers to make their buildings accessible to all.