Singapore: Disabled jobseekers turn to urban farming as COVID-19 affects employment opportunities
Hiring the disabled folks gave MEOD the opportunity to give back to society, Mr Lua said.
By Rachel Phua
Channel News Asia
Feb 3, 2021
Excerpt:
The 66-year-old is one of four disabled employees working at MEOD, a vegetable farm in Kranji. Mr Nithyaseelan had his right leg amputated in 2016 as a result of complications from diabetes.
A year later, he wanted to work again. But as the former army instructor-turned-bus captain could no longer drive, he reached out to SPD, a local charity that serves people with disabilities, to help him find a job.
Being a vegetable packer is Mr Nithyaseelan’s third job since the operation. Previously, he worked as a security officer and then a weighbridge operator at a waste management firm. He likes where he is now, he said, even if he was uncertain about taking it up at first.
“I’m happy when I came here because we work like a family … the environment (is) very cozy, quiet, not much disturbances,” he said, adding that he is thankful that he has a job despite his lack of mobility.
