Representatives from the Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) met this Monday (15) with directors from Simas Industrial de Alimentos. The meeting took place at the company's headquarters, located in the Industrial District of Macaíba, and aimed to discuss employability strategies for people with disabilities.
The candy and lollipop manufacturer has more than 600 employees, 34 of whom are people with disabilities. These employees work both on the production line and in administrative and product distribution sectors.
“The presence of PwDs in our factory is very important. We noticed a positive impact on their quality of life from the moment they participate in our routine activities and integrate with other employees”, stated Maria Eduarda Simas, industrial director at Simas.
In Brazil, Law No. 8,213/1991, known as the Quota Law, guarantees proportional reservation of job vacancies for people with disabilities. According to the standard, companies with more than 100 employees are required to fill 2% to 5% of their positions with rehabilitated beneficiaries or qualified people with disabilities.
ISD believes in employability as a way to expand the social participation of PwDs. In this sense, the Institute is developing mechanisms to prepare users of its rehabilitation care lines for the job market. Visits to various companies have contributed to defining the strategies that will be adopted, in line with local demands.
“We need to free ourselves from the ableist bondage of seeing people with disabilities as sick or incapable. We do not realize that these people are healthy, autonomous and can work in the job market, understanding the different types of disabilities and offering conditions so that they feel comfortable in the work environment”, emphasized Reginaldo Freitas Júnior, general director of ISD.
The meeting was attended by the general director of ISD, Reginaldo Freitas Júnior, the manager of Anita, Lilian Lisboa, and the coordinator of the Specialized Center for Rehabilitation (CER ISD), Camila Simão. Simas was represented by Maria Eduarda Simas, industrial director, Mário Gadelha Simas Filho, industrial manager, and Rita de Cássia Melo, administrative manager.
About ISD
The Santos Dumont Institute (ISD) is a Social Organization linked to the Ministry of Education (MEC) and includes the Edmond and Lily Safra International Neuroscience Institute and the Anita Garibaldi Center for Health Education and Research, both in Macaíba. ISD's mission is to promote education for life, forming citizens through integrated teaching, research and extension actions, in addition to contributing to a fairer and more humane transformation of Brazilian social reality.
About Simas
Simas Industrial de Alimentos, founded in 1946 in Natal, is one of the largest sweet producers in Brazil, specializing in the manufacture of candies and lollipops. The company exports its products to more than 30 countries.
