‘People with disabilities get fair share of jobs in market’

KUWAIT CITY, June 29: Minister of Social, Family and Childhood Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah affirmed the commitment of Kuwait to empower, rehabilitate and integrate people with disabilities into the labor market to enhance their participation in national development in line with Kuwait Vision 2035 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Al-Huwailah made the statement during her patronage of the graduation ceremony for the seventh batch of the ‘Partners for Their Employment’ program for the 2025/2026 training year. She disclosed that the program, which was launched in 2018 through the coordinated efforts of the Public Authority for Disability Affairs (PADA), Human Development Society for Social Development and United Nations Office in Kuwait, is now a national model for the rehabilitation and employment of people with special needs.

She said the seventh batch consists of 100 participants nominated to enter the labor market, increasing the total number of beneficiaries to 481 who benefited from five training programs in partnership with 27 national entities. She added that the initiative achieved 97.6 percent job retention rate in the six batches, surpassing similar programs in the United States and the United Kingdom. She stated that the initiative’s methodology has been adopted outside Kuwait, refl ecting the leading role of the country in supporting the rights of persons with disabilities. She also commended the efforts of PADA, Human Development Society for Social Development, United Nations Office, and the supporting entities like the Public Authority for Minors Affairs (PAMA) and various institutions in the public and private sectors.

On the other hand, Aalia Al- Khaled, Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Human Development Society for Social Development, revealed that the program achieved 97 percent job stability rate, with a turnover rate of 2.4 percent, surpassing many international initiatives. She pointed out that the initiative not only provided job opportunities, but also contributed to the financial savings of about KD1.3 million for the country, as graduates transitioned from receiving monthly allowances to relying on their own salaries. Ghada Al-Taher, Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Resident Coordinator in Kuwait, confirmed that the program is a national model fully appreciated by the United Nations and it has been included in the national reports for the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council. She indicated that the cooperation with Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) includes other initiatives in partnership with United Nations organizations, in addition to the joint program for the period 2026-2029 with funding of $5 million to develop these experiences and transfer them regionally and internationally.

By Fares Ghaleb Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff