![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/NCPD-IRAS-award-Netcare_edited-1.jpg\")
\u201cWe believe that the real significance lies not only in the numbers of PwD individuals who are directly employed with Netcare, but rather in challenging deeply entrenched stereotypes and assumptions about people with disabilities that still unfortunately persist in society. Too often, prejudiced ways of thinking still form the basis of exclusionary practices and policies that create barriers to PwDs\u2019 full participation in many areas of life,\u201d Sotshongaye says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs an organisation that upholds the ethos that all South Africans have the right to earn a living and to contribute meaningfully towards society and their own livelihood, Netcare believes that we all have a collective responsibility to actively dismantle the barriers to people achieving their rights,\u201d Khoosal adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNetcare\u2019s intentional approach to achieving 4% PwDs representation within the workforce has been championed by our chief executive officer, Dr Richard Friedland, who set the agenda for ambitious PwDs empowerment goals and a radical shift in mindset,\u201d adds Dr Nceba Ndzwayiba, Netcare\u2019s Group Director, Human Resources and Transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn 2008, we undertook an introspective study reflecting that at the time Netcare had only 60 persons with disabilities employed, representing a mere 0.31% of the workforce. We subsequently conducted a study aimed at understanding the internal and external barriers, leading to the implementation of various structured interventions which have been fully embraced by the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe became more aware as an organisation and set tangible targets for each business unit within Netcare to address these gaps to become more inclusive of all who remain on the periphery of our economy, notably PwDs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Netcare implemented various targeted strategies under the banner of the Sinako initiative, meaning \u2018We Can\u2019 in Xhosa, as an umbrella theme for the Group\u2019s multipronged disability mainstreaming efforts. In 2012 the Sinako Programme was launched, offering structured internships, learnerships and experiential learning opportunities to facilitate the development of skills and working experience in key fields for high potential individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the short term, our objective is to achieve 4.3% representation for PwDs across the Netcare Group and progress this to 8% over time, however it is not a question of chasing numbers but rather of making a lasting difference to how society in general and employers in particular perceive PwDs and the contribution they make.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, we have recruited an additional 50 youth with disabilities for a NQF4 learnership programme in Business Administration and further opportunities for career development and gainful employment upon successful completion of the vocational programme. To apply for the learnership please contact yes@netcare.co.za.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn accepting this award, we would also like to challenge corporate South Africa to do their part towards developing more inclusive working environments and, in doing so, help to address high levels of unemployment facing our country,\u201d Khoosal says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTogether, we can achieve so much more to ensure PwDs are not denied the right to earn a living, reaffirming their independence, dignity and rightful place in society.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Integrated Reporting and Assurance Services (IRAS) in partnership with the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) have recognised the Netcare Group as a leading employer of persons with disabilities (PwD). The IRAS presented the award to Netcare for having the highest rate of PwDs employed among JSE listed companies exceeding 10 000 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6454,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[57,152],"tags":[39,41,234,378],"class_list":["post-6452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-corporate-showcase","category-in-the-workplace","tag-disability","tag-disability-connect","tag-disability-in-the-workplace","tag-netcare"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6452"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6452\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.disabilityconnectexpo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}