Coffee chain's new signing store in Kuching to provide jobs for deaf community

KUCHING: The opening of a signing store by Starbucks Malaysia here will have a positive impact on employment opportunities for the deaf, says a Sarawak minister.

State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said this would enable the hearing-impaired to earn an income, be independent and live with dignity.

"One of our concerns for the disadvantaged and needy in our society is getting them employed.

"Employment is important in empowering them to live dignified lives," she said at the official launch of the Starbucks signing store at Vivacity Megamall here on Thursday (Aug 17).

Fatimah said her ministry made it a point to employ disabled people where possible.

She said the ministry also provided letters of support for them to be employed according to their potential and abilities.

"We want to create awareness that there are people who are different from us but who share the same aspirations," she added.

Berjaya Food Bhd group chief executive officer Datuk Sydney Quays said this was Starbucks' third signing store in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

"Our goal is to have a signing store in every state we operate in.

"For us, this is an opportunity for the deaf community to build self-confidence and we hope to provide more employment for them," he said.

Quays said there was no difference between a normal store and signing store except for tools to help the staff do their jobs, such as digital writing tablets for communication.

"Everything else is the same, so there is no discrimination," he said.

Starbucks Malaysia head of sustainability and social impact said the signing store aimed to uplift the local community by fostering inclusivity and celebrating the vibrant culture of deaf and hard of hearing people.

"Since its soft launch on July 27, the store saw an overwhelming and positive response from customers," she said.

She added that the store would collaborate with the Sarawak Society for the Deaf in sign language training and interpretation services, besides conducting workshops for the public.