MINISTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY ATTENDS LAUNCH OF TWO INITIATIVES IN FAVOUR OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY

HSBC Bank Malta plc today launched two other initiatives for persons with disability. The first refers to banking facilities HSBC makes available to these persons, while the second initiative launched today is the translation and publication in Maltese of the booklet published by the Employers’ Forum on Disability of UK entitled (in Maltese) Klijenti b’Dizabilità u Inti.

This was announced by HSBC Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tom Robson. The National Commission Persons with Disability, headed by its President Mr Joe Camilleri, and other main business organisations were invited for the launch of these two initiatives. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy, Dr Lawrence Gonzi, also attended the event.

In his address, Mr Robson said: "HSBC adopts an Equal Opportunities Policy as regards to employment, treatment of employees and customers, installation of suitable facilities and in the provision of banking products and services. The launch of improved loan rates for persons with disability and the booklet "Klijenti b’Dizabilità u Inti" are two among several initiatives taken by HSBC in Malta to respect the dignity of persons with disability and to make it easier for them to get a better service."

"The booklet will be distributed to the local business community and we therefore hope that the benefit to be achieved in a better service being given to persons with disability will be exponential."

"HSBC is highly committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in respect of persons with disability. Apart from the basic fact that HSBC’s Equal Opportunities Policy is communicated to all our employees in various ways, in Malta, HSBC has appointed an official to ensure that the Bank not only complies as much as is reasonably possible with all the provisions of the Equal Opportunities Act, but also to act in a proactive manner and to go the further mile in giving a better service to persons with disability. This resulted in today’s launch of these two initiatives, said Mr Robson.

Earlier on this year, HSBC signed an agreement with the National Commission, through which the Bank committed itself to:

• Provide full accessibility when developing new buildings.
• Endeavour to ensure that premises being refurbished will be accessible to all clients.
• Provide necessary information/notices on suitable alternatives where full physical access is not reasonable.
• Install ATMs which will be accessible to wheelchair users when old ATMs are being replaced by new ones. This process is to be completed within a 5-year period.
• Accept the signature or mark of a blind person without the need for the latter to provide a third party to witness such signature/mark. Instead, both witnesses are to be from among bank staff.
• Provide an Awareness Training Programme to all its employees especially to those who in direct contact with customers.
• Make every effort to retain employees who become disabled.
• Offer equal opportunities to all its staff including staff development and promotions.
• Provide any reasonable fixture or equipment required by a staff member because or his/her disability within a reasonable period of time.
• Consult with the ETC when recruiting externally so that as far as possible it will recruit disabled persons.

Mr Robson stated that the booklet will also form a solid basis and reference point when the National Commission is delivering training programmes in various business enterprises.

HSBC announced that with immediate effect, the Bank is extending its beneficial loan rates to cover purchases that will improve the quality of life of the disabled customer or of any disabled dependent (e.g. spouse or children). The purpose of the loan has been extended to encompass most possibilities and this is being done irrespective of age of the person with disability.

HSBC’s beneficial loan rate is ½% below Bank’s Base Rate for a maximum amount of loan Lm5000. As from today, and given last week’s decrease in base rate, the applicable debit interest rate is currently 3.75% per annum.

Next year, HSBC will be embarking on an extensive training programme for front line employees. This programme will be conducted in conjunction with the National Commission who will be taking a very active part in such programmes.

The President of the National Commission Persons with Disability, Mr Joe Camilleri, explained: "The booklet, Klijenti b’Dizabilità u Inti, is a full colour publication, mainly aimed at front line staff who serve customers. The booklet, which will be presented to all representative bodies by Mr Robson, makes very easy reading and the overall presentation is pleasing."

‘Klijenti b’Dizabilità u Inti’ provides numerous tips on how to see to and help persons with disability. Mr Camilleri said: "The message it delivers is that it makes good business sense to provide fully accessible products and services since businesses would thereby be increasing their customer base and persons with disability would not need to go to competitors to cater for their needs. On behalf of the National Commission, I would like to thank HSBC for sponsoring this booklet in Maltese".

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy Lawrence Gonzi, noted that HSBC has this year adopted and worked upon the basic message which the NCPD adopted as this year’s slogan for the International Day for Persons with Disability – design for all. The Social Policy Minister noted that work has to be adopted to the worker and not vice versa, and similarly services and facilities offered by organisations have to be tuned to the needs of the clients to maximise their uptake and effect. "HSBC is proving once again that it is striving to create a level-playing field for ALL its clients so as to ensure equitable access and facilities are designed to ensure that the proper resources can be availed of."

Minister Gonzi noted that quality of life initiatives such as those being launched today by HSBC are becoming crucial to enterprise development, business success and social well-being. The EU programmes are increasing emphasising the need to focus on quality of life initiatives especially for disadvantaged groups such as persons with disability. Minister Gonzi thanked HSBC for the commitment and encouraged similar organisations to increase their efforts, since these initiatives serve not only persons with disability but society as a whole.

The publication, which has been originally issued by the UK-based Employers’ Forum on Disability established in 1986, is the Forum’s most successful publication with over 900,000 copies sold to date.

The Employers’ Forum on Disability, an apolitical not-for-profit employers’ organisation, is the authoritative employers’ voice on disability as it affects business. HSBC is one of the core funders of the Forum, the membership of which has now grown to over 360 member organisations from various business sectors employing approximately 22% of the UK national workforce. The raison d’être of the Forum is to make it easier to recruit and retain disabled employees and to serve persons with disabilities. The Forum achieves its objectives through networking events, publications, briefings, website and help-line.

HSBC Malta has acquired a licence from the Employers’ Forum to print and publish the booklet. This publication has been translated into Maltese with the help of the National Commission, which is distributing the booklet to the business community to help it provide a better service to customers with disability.

The contents of the booklet have also been made available in audiocassette format for persons who are blind or partially sighted. The title of the booklet on the audiocassette case is in braille for easy identification.

As one satisfied customer put it, the booklet "has been one of the best received and thought-provoking publications on disability. It is because it has such a catchy, almost humorous format that people tend to pick it up and read it. Hence the very vital message of an individual, non-judgemental and personal approach to disabled customers gets through without the reader actually realising that they are, in fact, being ‘trained’ in disability awareness". 

The International Day of Disabled Persons was initially proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations to celebrate and acknowledge the experience and capabilities of people with disabilities. It commemorated the anniversary of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the General Assembly to promote understanding about disability issues and to increase awareness of gains to be derived from integrating disabled persons into all aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life.

More than half a billion persons are disabled as a result of mental, physical or sensory impairment and no matter which part of the world they are in, their lives are often limited by physical or social barriers. During the past two decades, however, much has been accomplished in recognition of persons with disability. The same applies to the local scene where merit is due to the unstinting efforts of the National Commission Persons with Disability.