Qaderoon Business Disability Network members visited Nesma Embroidery & Tailoring Center last Tuesday. Nesma Center, a subsidiary of Nesma Holding, presented to them the center's experience in the employment of women with disabilities, the latest developments in policies relating to persons with disabilities, and the available support programs. Barriers were discussed along with the best solutions to overcome them and develop inclusive work environments for persons with disabilities. The visit began with a tour of the various departments such as production and storage lines. Noura Saleh Al-Turki, Executive Director of Support Services at Nesma Holding, reaffirmed the Center's message to develop a domestic industry that employs women in the field of embroidery and tailoring, enabling them to secure productive jobs by way of providing sustainable, high-quality products that meet Saudi Arabia local demands. Al-Turki noted that Nesma Holding believes in the importance of empowering persons with disabilities and providing them an active role in society, ensuring their rights to an independent life. Nesma Holding adopted this through employing women with hearing disabilities in the center, as well as providing a work environment that is equipped with the necessary accommodations that enables the employees performance and productivity such as providing trained supervisors to communicate through sign language, provide written guides, manuals, and signs to guide the production and classification of fabrics and threads where appropriate. During the visit, Dr. Mervat Tashkandi, Advisor and general supervisor of the Tawafuq program at the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, delivered a presentation, speaking on the implementation of regulations and amendment to Article 10 of the Labor Law which defines types of disabilities, explicating a range of needed accommodations in the workplace. Additionally, she pointed to the role of the private sector in providing employment opportunities to persons with disabilities and the necessity of leveraging these laws to facilitate this for qualified candidates searching for employment. Khalid Sindi, Executive Manager of Qaderoon Network, emphasized that Qaderoon is proceeding in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 which will facilitate for persons with disabilities appropriate employment and education opportunities that guarantee their independence and active roles in society. This is accomplished through providing guidance, advice, training and best practice to employers to recruit, retain and include employees with disabilities, through inclusive work environments and favorable policies.
