Bangkok--28 Nov--124 Communication
Yum! Thailand provides the hearing-impaired with careers at KFC,A first in QSR businessOver 1.3 million baht invested in assisting devices for better communication
Popular fast food chain KFC, under Yum! Thailand’s management, moves forward in its social responsibility by employing people with hearing disability to do real jobs, starting at the Times Square branch — a first in QSR business. It is aimed that 120 people with hearing disability will be employed by next year.
Yum Restaurants International (Thailand) partners with the National Association of the Deaf, Thailand (NADT) and Suan Dusit Rajabaht University (SDU) in welcoming the hearing-impaired to work at KFC to promote and train those with hearing disability with promising careers in KFC, with the same benefits and career path as any of its employees. The first branch to take on this policy is KFC at Times Square building on Sukhumvit Road, which has been operating for 6 months now. At present, 32 people with hearing disability are employed, and the ratio between the hearing-impaired and regular staff is 70:30. Yum! Thailand is the first company in QSR business to welcome the hearing-impaired to work as a regular employee.
Milind Pant, Managing Director of Yum Restaurants International (Thailand) Co., Ltd, said that Yum! Thailand aims to conduct its business alongside caring for all communities that KFC and Pizza Hut branches are located in. Moreover, Yum! Thailand believes in the potential in every individual, especially the disabled who are living a quality life in our society. They should be given diverse job opportunities, so Yum! Thailand has come up with Special KFC project to welcome the hearing impaired and communication-challenged to work with KFC to promote self-dependence and generate income for them and their families, as well as provide them with a promising career. This is another social responsibility project under Yum! Thailand’s initiative based on its promise to support sustainable community development.
“In 2012, we’ve implemented a special management system at the Times Square branch as a pioneer branch to support our employees with hearing and communication challenges. We have invested 1.3 million baht in tools and devices to enable them to work efficiently. By welcoming them into our family, there are certain things that are necessary for them, such as fire alarms have to be flashing red light instead of just siren. The operation system such as taking orders and placing orders also has to change so that they can work efficiently and happily alongside other employees. In 2013, Yum! Thailand is planning to employ more hearing-impaired and communication-challenged people at more KFC branches, namely at Major Sukhumvit and Gateway Ekkamai. In the future, we are planning to expand to more branches to give opportunities to the hearing-impaired and communication-challenged,” Milind added.
Anita Sony, director of human resources, said that the corporate culture of Yum! Thailand is based on the faith in its people’s potential, and customer satisfaction and profits will follow naturally. Apart from that, it also embraces a culture that appreciates individual strengths, so Yum! Thailand is happy to welcome those with hearing disability and communication challenges to work in the company. In 2013, it is estimated there will be 120 of employees with special needs working in 3 KFC branches. This makes KFC the first fast food provider in Thailand who hires staff with hearing disability and communication challenges to work and serve clients. More importantly, they are encouraged to do real jobs. Yum! Thailand receives great cooperation from the NADT and higher education institutes such as Suan Dusit Rajabhat University and Ratchasuda College, Mahidol University, in encouraging new graduates to work at KFC. They will be trained by restaurant managers who will give them guidance while they work. The company has a policy to encourage career advancement, and they too will receive such support through trainings, with help from the human resources department, KFC restaurant managers, KFC’s district manager and the Restaurant Excellence team. Their real potential will be brought out and implemented in their work with KFC.
“We also have tailored training programs conducted in sign language and our knowledge has been translated into Thai, placed in our Learning Zone for our staff to access. The knowledge includes the recipe for each menu and service skills. The hearing-impaired and communication-challenged will also have access to this knowledge so they can enhance their ability and knowledge for better career and higher income. We hope that in the future they can advance in their career path and become KFC managers with great management skills and high satisfaction in their job,” said Anita.
Suksan Suttiboon, manager of NADT, added, “From our central database for people with disabilities in Thailand from the National Office for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (NEP) under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security as of October 18, 2012, there are currently 1,265,225 people with disabilities in Thailand. Among that number, 199,284 have hearing and communication disabilities, and many of them are not presented with job opportunities and quality life in the society. I believe that they have potential and ability to work in various professions — all they need is a chance and acceptance from the society. On behalf of people with disabilities, I would like to thank KFC for handing us good opportunities to be a part of the society.”
Assoc Prof Keyun Wongkom, Chairperson of the management committee of special education program, Faculty of Education, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, said that the university has a policy to provide special education program to students with disabilities, such as those with hearing and communication challenges, visual impairment and autism. At present, there are over 70 students with disabilities enrolled in the university. The majority of these students are in Thai major of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. These students might learn at a slower pace, since they were not taught using sign language and manual alphabet instead of common written language. It takes them longer to get used to the common alphabet and forming sentences. However, students with hearing loss and communication challenges are very determined, and upon graduation they are recruited by the private sector. Meanwhile, the university is very pleased to cooperate with Yum! Thailand in producing quality graduates with disabilities to work with KFC in the future.
Those with hearing disability or communication challenges who are interested in joining KFC can apply for a position with the manager of KFC Times Square branch on Sukhumvit Road or with the human resources department of Yum! Restaurant International (Thailand), 12 Two Pacific Place, Sukhumvit ROAD, Klong Toey, Bangkok, call 02-6532900 ext 9402 or 9404 or e-mail
[email protected].