HireAbility campaign advocates for inclusive workplaces in Caribbean
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Zinzee Noel, a youth advocate from Grenada, initiated the HireAbility Campaign to encourage governments and employers across the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean to create more accessible workplaces for people with disabilities.
Noel first proposed the initiative as a focused effort on inclusive hiring, and with support from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, it grew into a regional campaign centered on employment and workplace inclusion.
The campaign aims to reframe perceptions of disability, emphasizing the skills and potential of people with disabilities rather than limitations. The International Labour Organization (ILO) supports HireAbility, viewing disability inclusion as a fundamental labour right and a matter of economic participation. ILO data reveals that globally, people with disabilities participate in the labour force at rates 30 percent lower than those without disabilities, and young people with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed or out of school.
To promote change, the HireAbility Campaign includes the Disability Inclusive Employer Pledge, where businesses publicly commit to improving hiring and workplace practices. Carenage Bay Holding Ltd., Runman Belize Corporation, and Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited have already signed the pledge. The campaign will continue through December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, to encourage practical changes in recruitment and workplace systems.
