Getting People into Jobs – Stories from Pakistan

The theme for Bone and Joint Action Week 2016 is “Musculoskeletal health to stay in work”. This reflects increasing recognition of the importance of musculoskeletal health to enable people to stay in work, be independent and enjoy a life without pain.

Of equal importance is the need to create livelihood opportunities for people with musculoskeletal conditions. In Pakistan, the Pakistan Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PSRD) is delivering initiatives which are essential for getting disabled people into work.

The Sheltered Workshop is a project of the Skills Department of PSRD which recognises that people with musculoskeletal conditions and disabilities, due to their lack of education, are unable to get employment. Even if they are able to get a job it is usually menial, often in an unpleasant working environment and because of their condition they find it difficult to keep to the rigorous working hours. The Sheltered Workshop has been established to enable such people to make a reasonable income in a sheltered environment under good and flexible working conditions.

Another project designed to help people with musculoskeletal conditions earn a living is the Micro Credit Programme which provides small interest free loans to help people with physical disabilities set up an income-generating business.

Read the stories of those who have been helped by these projects here.

Click to access Livelihood-Opportunities-for-People-with-Musculoskeletal-Conditions-Oct-2016.pdf

The Global Alliance for Musculsokeletal Health congratulates PSRD on these fabulous projects and would like to thank International Ambassador Ghazala Hameed for reporting on the personal stories of some of those that have been helped by the projects.