Sale promoted the initiative at an event to recognize participants of the program.
The First Job program gives high school students with disabilities who are 16 years of age and older an opportunity to work for up to eight weeks in a work or career area of interest. Currently, 26 students are participating in the initiative.
"This program provides students with disabilities an opportunity to contribute to our workforce and showcase their potential," said Sale, who is also minister of family services and housing. "The report entitled Full Citizenship: A Manitoba Provincial Strategy on Disability which was released earlier this year, reflects our government’s commitment to making changes that will allow all Manitobans to fully participate in our society. This program is a good example of how that challenge is being met."
Sale applauded Manitoba Family Services and Housing, Manitoba Education, Training and Youth, Human Resources Development Canada and the Manitoba Business Leadership Network Inc., for their work in developing the program.
Participating employers receive an average of 75 per cent of a student’s wages and benefits for the first six weeks of the student’s employment. Approved employers agree to provide two weeks of full employment without wage incentives at the end of the employment term. Job placements are distributed throughout Winnipeg, rural and northern Manitoba.
"This program is a wonderful opportunity for students with disabilities to learn new skills, be active members of Manitoba’s workforce and have a role in the success of our province’s economy," said Sale. "Increasingly, employers are recognizing that people with disabilities have a lot to offer and want nothing more than to be contributing members of society."
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