Kuala Lumpur, 15 January 2019 

To usher in the new year, AEON CO. (M) BHD. has embarked on a journey to strengthen its ties with the community by initiating a PWD Able for Disable Training Programme. Started in 2018, the programme saw the AEON Human Resource Learning and Development division organise training sessions for its employees throughout Malaysia – a total of 90 people with disabilities (PWD) and 34 HR Officers. AEON is eager to continue this training programme and has officially kick-started the programme for 2019.

Held in line with the Government’s efforts to increase the employment rate of disabled individuals, the PWD Able for Disable Training Programme also aims to minimise the gap between department staff leads and disabled staff by being a platform that allows open communication between both parties. More importantly, this programme serves as a means for PWD staff and the management of AEON to align performance goals and achieve better results when serving customers.

Present during the launch was Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, who said: “As we enter a new year, one of our hopes for a New Malaysia is that social harmony is preserved and I believe that a great way to do this is by empowering every member of society with the necessary employability skills, regardless of background, creed or caste. Hopefully, more companies in Malaysia will follow suit and we will see more programmes as such very soon.”

In 2018, the training programme was designed to provide PWD staff with the necessary skills to communicate and perform various job scopes in relation to various departments in AEON Stores. Additionally, Standard Operating Procedures were put in place to enhance workflow. This year, the objective is to further strengthen this project by addressing any issues that were found during the first round of this programme.

Shinobu Washizawa, Managing Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD. said: “We have always strived to give back to the community and with our PWD Able for Disable Training Programme, AEON is committed to growing, not just as a retail company, but as part of the community itself.”

In addition to launching this year’s training programme, the event also served as a prize-giving ceremony where the most outstanding PWD and Coach were recognised and the most effective Standard Operating Procedure was named.