Disabled feel slump first

THE not-for-profit sector has long been one of the key employers of disabled people in Western Australia.

Good Samaritan Industries has employed disabled people in WA for more than 40 years and currently provides work for more than 450 people with disabilities.

But according to Good Samaritans chief executive John Knowles, the disabled are the first to become victims when the economy slows down.

"That part of our business which is trying to find jobs for people and to keep people in jobs is hitting all sorts of brick walls because the jobs are getting harder to find," Mr Knowles said.

"Sadly, when the layoffs happen it is quite often the person with a disability in the workforce that's the first to go."

Earlier this month the Western Australian Department of Health awarded a contract to produce WA Health forms to Victoria-based Moore Business Systems Australia.

Nedlands-based Westcare, a not-for-profit organisation that employs people with a disability, previously held the contract.

Director general of health, Peter Flett, had mooted a sub-contractor agreement between Westcare and Moore but Westcare chief executive Bev Jeffries told WA Business News this week negotiations had stalled.

"As of a discussion we had with Moore today I don't think it's looking too promising; I'm hoping that I'm wrong, but indications are that it's not looking too favourable," Mrs Jeffries said.

She said Westcare was not prepared to lay-off workers, but there was no room in the company's budget to add extra staff.