Over 7,500 Disabled People Work in Public and Private Sectors
Prime Minister Hun Manet inspects booths during the celebration of Cambodia’s 25th Person with Disability Day, which coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 4.
- By Ung Chamroeun
- December 4, 2023 2:05 PM
PHNOM PENH – A total of 7,535 people with disabilities are working in public institutions and the private sector, said Chea Somethy, Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation.
He said that 3,776 of them are working in 39 different ministries and state institutions, with 2,351 having serious disability. In the private sector, 241 companies, including banks, microfinance institutions, hotels and factories employ 3,759 disabled people, of which 3,631 are women.
Somethy announced such numbers on Dec. 4, a day after celebrating Cambodia’s 25th Person with Disability Day, which coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The minister said that his institution is currently implementing a disability identification program based on social norms and basic rights, which allowed the identification of 288,690 people with disabilities throughout the country.
In the 2022-23 academic year, 1,063 children and youth have been identified with intellectual disabilities and autism, while an additional 551 were identified as deaf or blind.
Somethy said they are learning sign language, calligraphy, and Braille language through partner organizations' programs.
Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged relevant ministries and stakeholders to take action so that people with disabilities can play a role in society and are not left behind.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Torn Chanritheara for Cambodianess.
