February 27, 2023, in Karachi, in order to build a diverse channel of candidates as potential employees for the banking industry and help them improve their quality of life, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan Limited (SCBPL), continuing with its contribution to economic empowerment and financial inclusion of the masses, has launched an internship program for people with disabilities.
Rehan Sheikh, the SCBPL CEO, Muhammad Umer, the country head of HR SCBPL, and Millicent Clarke, the regional head of human resources for Africa and the Middle East, attended the launch of this initiative. Our current colleagues with disabilities who work at the Bank also shared their journeys and experiences.
Rehan Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer, of Standard Chartered Bank (Pakistan) Limited said, “Our newly launched Internship Programme for differently-abled persons is a key milestone in our efforts to provide them with equal access and opportunity to participate in economic activities and realize their full potential. This initiative is supported by improved infrastructure, service delivery, and the use of innovative technologies and is part of our Futuremakers Inclusive Employability Programme which is critical for embedding Diversity and Inclusion priorities within our footprint. This is also in line with the Central Bank’s agenda of Financial Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, and we are confident that it will open more doors and opportunities to develop further as we move forward.”
The Bank has made accommodations for infrastructure compatibility, such as elevator flooring and wheelchair ramps. The program also includes digital tools to make it easier for interns with disabilities to access resources. For all staff members to be genuinely inclusive, further sign language literacy and sensitivity training is available.
Moreover, SCBPL has teamed with Connect Hear and Sight Savers to create a candidate pool for this program. In order to streamline the processes, a sign language interpreter was used during the interview and onboarding phases.
Through working on industry-wide assessments, database management, health checks, portfolios, and opportunity-execution plans, SCBPL has developed immersive projects to engage the interns and assist them in gaining professional exposure. In order to enhance communication for the “Hard of Hearing” (HoH) interns, the Bank will provide sign-language interpreters and certified sign-language companions.