HEARING and speech impaired factory line operator Lim Guan Chooi, 35, is happy working at Flex Penang as he feels he is treated just like any other employee there.
“I have worked here for four years,” Lim said with the help of a sign language interpreter.
He added that there was no double standard when it came to salary or recognition for good work at the factory.
Another hearing impaired employee A. Savithiri, 39, started working at the human resources department in March and feels she can build a career at Flex.
“The employees help each other and are committed to their work,” said the mother-of-three.
Mohd Kamal Mohd Sidek, 32, who is disabled in both legs and has to depend on crutches due to an accident in 2016, feels blessed to work as a line operator at Flex.
“Socso helped me get the job,” he said, referring to the Social Security Organisation.
The trio are among 277 persons with disabilities working at the factory.
Flex Penang signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) withSocso to empower disabled workers in the country.
Flex Penang was represented by its vice-president P. Viswanathan while Socso was represented by its chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.
The signing at Plant 5 in Prai was witnessed by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.
The strategic cooperation will include research and learning, career marketability programmes, employment services through the MYFutureJobs National Employment Portal, Training of Trainers and Socso Return-To-Work Programme.
Viswanathan said Flex Penang took the initiative to hire disabled workers including the deaf, slow learners and those with physical disabilities in 2018 and more were expected to be recruited.
“They are not only operators. Some are engineers and technicians,” he said.
During the event, Saravanan launched the MYFutureJobs@Flex Satellite Hub at the factory.
Mohammed Azman said Flex Penang was the first company to have such a hub in Malaysia.
He said Socso through MYFutureJobs had placed 150 disabled workers in Flex Penang and more would be recruited when the hub is operational.
