More than 500 applicants turned up on March 14 at a job fair for disabled people presented by several foreign-invested companies and organized by the US and British consulate generals in Guangzhou.

US Consul General Jennifer Zimdahl Galt appreciated in her speech the efforts of the companies and job applicants in promoting equal employment and said she was "very confident" that some would land a job.

Seventeen companies and organizations including the two consulate generals, IBM, Ritz-Carlton, HSBC, Fedex, Mead Johnson and Dahon offered jobs at the fair.

"As the very first industrialized country in the world, the United Kingdom has been working for many years to refine the systems for employment and economic regulation," said Matthew Rous, consul general of the British consulate.

"We have some experience of what works well and what does not work so well. We made some mistakes. If we can help our friends in China to learn from those and to get to a good situation more quickly that we managed, that is a very good thing," he said.

Thirty-year-old Li Yudan, who has a broken leg, used to collect parking fees, operate elevators, place orders for materials and take calls at a call center and had not worked after a surgery last year.

With a diploma in finance and a certificate for selling insurance policies, Li said he did not hold high expectation for a new job but a stable one which suits him, with a position of office work or fee collection on his mind.

Visually impaired Ah Chong, 35, has been working as a massager and decided to have a try at the fair although he felt there may not be many positions available for him.

Speaking- and hearing-impaired Li Yungang hoped to find a job in computer science, mechanical engineering, design or art design.

He received the attention of bicycle maker Dahon Technology (Shenzhen) Co for his ability in engineering drawing and experience in designing and making robots.

Not having offered such a position at the fair, recruiters of the company decided to review the resume after they go back and keep in contact with Li for a possible interview.

"I appreciate the efforts of the organizers and all the companies to provide very good opportunities for the disabled people. Although he has not found a suitable job yet, we left a few copies of resume and will wait for further notice," Li's mother said.

"Disabled people value more the hard-won opportunity for equal treatment and I hope for more such programs in the future."

Employing six disabled people in positions of cleaning and light part of the manufacturing, Dahon Technology (Shenzhen) Co emphasizes its social responsibility, offering a dozen positions this time, said Wang Wanjie, deputy director of the administrative department.

Ailsa Liu, senior human resources manager, national staffing of Mead Johnson Nutritionals (China), said: "We hope to bring positive energy to the fair and let people know that there are opportunities."

Although companies receive tax reduction for hiring disabled people in China, employers at the fair ruled out this factor in joining the fair.

Some of the job seekers were not fully prepared for the fair, not bringing a resume with them, and many had not been aware of the requirement for certain English language proficiency.

US Consul General Galt said the fair made the first such attempt by the consulate and may be carried on if proved successful.

The consulate has been running training workshops for disabled people in the past one and half years to improve the skills in areas such as interviews and writing curriculum vitae.

About 4.46 million disabled people in urban areas and 17.57 million in rural areas were working in China in 2013, according to China Disabled Persons' Federation.

Wang Zijia contributed to this story.

liwenfang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 03/20/2015 page10)