SINGAPORE – Inclusive employment for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups took centre stage at the Istana open house, which was held on Nov 1 ahead of Deepavali.
It was the first time the open house – usually focused on live performances and family-friendly activities – had showcased such efforts.
At the event, visitors learnt more about the communities in need of help, as well as the employment barriers faced by such job seekers.
Also present were President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his spouse Jane Ittogi who interacted with community organisations and inclusive employers who had set up booths there.
These included social enterprise Inclus, which helps people with disabilities gain meaningful employment, and New Hope Community Services, which provides shelter and employment support for the disadvantaged.
New Hope, for instance, worked with two hotels – Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens – to secure employment for disadvantaged individuals.
Leslie Lenus, who is area director of people and culture at both hotels, said that rather than searching for the perfect candidate, the hotels started from what each role requires, and matched it to individuals’ strengths.
They also broke roles into clear, manageable tasks, and provided structured onboarding, consistent routines, and regular guidance from supervisors and peers.
“Inclusive hiring does not mean lowering standards. Inclusive hires are held to the same expectations for performance and service,” he added.
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