SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1962
MORE GOVERNMENT JOBS FOR THE DISABLED
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS INCREASED ITS RECRUITMENT OF DIABLED PERSONS.
IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 THE GOVERNMENT RECRUITED 166 DISABLED PERSONS, COMPARED WITH 126 DURING THE PREVIOUS 12-MONTH PERIOD.
ON APRIL 1 THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 1 138 DISABLED PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH SAID IT WAS GOVERNMENT POLICY TO PLACE THE DISABLED IN APPROPRIATE JOBS WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
+DISABLED PERSONS APPLYING FOR APPOINTMENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE ARE CONSIDERED ON EQUAL TERMS WITH OTHER APPLICANTS. IF THEY ARE FOUND SUITABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT, THEY ARE GIVEN AN APPROPRIATE DEGREE OF PREFERENCE FOR APPOINTMENT OVER OTHER APPLICANTS.+
A DISABLED PERSON FOUND SUITABLE TO CARRY OUT THE DUTIES OF A PARTICULAR POST WAS NORMALLY APPOINTED EVEN THOUGH HE MAY NOT BE ABLE, ON ACCOUNT OF HIS DISABILITY, TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF EVERY POST IN THE SAME RANK, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY IN PLACING THE DISABLED IN APPROPRIATE JOBS WHEREVER POSSIBLE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL POLICY TO INTEGRATE THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PROCESS OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EVENTUAL GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.
IN AN EFFORT TO RECRUIT MORE VISUALLY HANDICAPPED TELEPHONISTS, SWITCH-BOARDS LOCATED IN A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED FOR THE USE OF BLIND OPERATORS.
ALTERATIONS TO OFFICE PREMISES AND FITTINGS ARE MADE WHERE NECESSARY FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF DISABLED OFFICERS. SUCH SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AS OPTACON IS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE USE OF DISABLED OFFICERS TO ENABLE THEM TO DO THEIR WORK.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT MORE DISABLED PERSONS WOULD BE EMPLOYED IN THE COMING YEAR AND THAT THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTOR WOULD FOLLOW THE GOVERNMENT'S EXAMPLE IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS.