Amazon Singapore to triple hiring of workers with disabilities

Amazon Singapore has pledged to triple its hiring of employees with disabilities for operations facilities in the next three years.

The retail giant made the commitment after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SG Enable, a disability services and support organisation in Singapore.

"Through this partnership, we want to empower persons with disabilities with relevant on-the-job skills training and development to support them as they build careers, and enable them with an inclusive and positive environment to grow and learn," Manuel Berbuer, general manager of operations at Amazon Singapore, said in a statement.

As of 2021, Amazon Singapore had about 2,000 full-time and part-time employees, who are mostly locals and permanent residents. The company began onboarding associates with autism, intellectual disabilities, and those who are deaf or hard of hearing in July 2022.

With the MoU, Amazon will be able to hire 15% of its associates from diverse cohorts of persons with disabilities over the next three years.

The plan will also see Amazon co-develop logistics training courses with SG Enable's Enabling Academy, as well as provide mentorship and internship opportunities for students with disabilities.

Amazon teams will also undergo training with SG Enable's support to develop relevant skills necessary in working and supporting associates with disabilities.

'Important milestone'

The signing of the MoU is significant as it amplifies Amazon's hiring of associates with disabilities, according to Ku Geok Boon, chief executive officer of SG Enable.

"Formalising our partnership with Amazon today marks an important milestone for us as we celebrate a decade of enabling persons with disabilities and look forward to more impactful partnerships ahead," Ku said in a statement.

Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Gan , who was also present at the signing, expressed gratitude to Amazon for promoting inclusive hiring and employment in Singapore.

"You have created a supportive work environment that enables employees with disabilities to excel. I heard about how you trained your employees to better understand these conditions and disabilities, to be able to communicate with people with special needs who are working here," the minister said in a speech.

The MoU also reflects Amazon's confidence in employing persons with disabilities, according to Gan, as many employers have concerns if they are able to fulfil job requirements.

Employer support

Singapore has been encouraging employers to recruit and train employees with disabilities, calling them "an important source of manpower and talent."

Employers who will hire persons with disabilities are eligible for the Enabling Employment Credit, where employers can receive up to 30% wage support for employees with disabilities.

SG Enable also has a government-funded initiative called Open Door Programme (ODP), which provides employers up to one year of complimentary services in the process of recruiting and retaining staff with disabilities.

"Grants under the ODP also support employers to make the workplace more conducive for persons with disabilities. They cover up to 90% of costs incurred when redesigning the job, modifying the workplace, and sending staff for training to work with employees with disabilities," Gan said.

The minister encouraged other employers to follow Amazon's lead in hiring more employees with disabilities, stressing that there is "a lot of potential to be tapped on."

"Sometimes it's not just about meeting the company's needs, or the manpower requirements to fulfil the job, but also in enabling co-workers to develop a sense of empathy and kindness, which will benefit everyone at the workplace," Gan said.