SHAH ALAM: The Welfare Department is forging a strategic collaboration with Gardenia Bakery to bolster the marketability of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the partnership will be carried out under the 'Bengkel Daya and Anjung Sinar' initiatives which fall under the department's purview.
She said the collaboration will help to enhance the participants' skills and impart technological knowledge in baking and pastry arts.
"By doing so, trainees at Bengkel Daya will benefit from a comprehensive approach to skill enhancement. This will ultimately boost the quality of their products.
"Furthermore, it is of paramount interest for us to create employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and young people under Welfare Department institutions.
"These people are often confronted with challenges when securing employment within the broader job market. These initiatives seek to address the disparity and provide inclusive pathways to meaningful employment," Nancy told a press conference at the Gardenia Factory Tour relaunch.
Bengkel Daya is a workshop under the auspices of Welfare Department, catering specifically to persons with disabilities facing challenges in securing employment within the open market.
This workshop serves as a valuable platform offering both training and employment opportunities across various fields, with a special emphasis on areas such as bread and pastry production, aiming to establish a sustainable source of income for PWDs.
Currently, the Welfare Department manages two Bengkel Daya facilities, namely Bengkel Daya Klang and Bengkel Daya Sungai Petani.
In a complementary initiative, Anjung Sinar is a temporary transit centre designed to provide a robust social support system for children transitioning out of Welfare Department institutions.
Nancy said training for persons with disabilities under the Welfare Department should be done carefully and according to the participants' special needs.
"This is because, aside from individuals with physical disabilities, there are those with autism and some have high functioning abilities, while others have very low functioning abilities."
She said without proper care and training, there is a risk of them being exploited by irresponsible parties. She said such special needs participants also need constant companionship.
"Providing them with training for simple jobs, such as organising books, not only gives them a sense of focus, but helps to prevent potential exploitation. If left to wander around without purpose, there's a risk of them being misused.
"Therefore, we aim to offer them employment opportunities, ensuring they have a sense of purpose in their work and become valuable contributors to society who are capable of sustaining themselves."
Nancy said this long-term strategic partnership promises to enhance the #GardeniaCares programme significantly and aligns perfectly with Gardenia's ongoing corporate social responsibility efforts.
"Without a doubt, such a collaboration will shine a brighter light on our ministry's target demographic, addressing their specific needs more effectively."