Collaborating for Greater Impact

Collaboration is key to advancing disability inclusion.  SG Enable works with organisations like Marina Bay Sands and Tote Board to enable persons with disabilities to live, work and play in an inclusive society.

Working with Partners to Drive Inclusion

Since opening in 2010, Marina Bay Sands has made diversity and inclusion the core of its hiring philosophy. The Food & Beverage team began taking in trainees from Metta School, three of whom went on to become full-timers in 2012. In 2016, the integrated resort ramped up efforts on disability-inclusive hiring, partnering with SG Enable and SPD to create an inclusive work environment and provide meaningful employment for persons with disabilities. 

“When we first started on this inclusive hiring journey, our immediate task was to address existing mindsets of hiring managers and co-workers. This is done through disability inclusion training to help Team Members gain acceptance of persons with disabilities and foster open communications around disability inclusion. Establishing an open line of communication with one another also allows Team Members to build a strong support network. These efforts help pave the way for successful integration,” said Ms Chan Yit Foon, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources.

She continued, “SG Enable has played a pivotal role in helping us establish our inclusive hiring programme. We have benefitted from their guidance on workplace modifications, sharing of best practices, and identifying suitable candidates for available roles. Prior to shortlisting persons with disabilities for interviews, SG Enable goes the extra mile to speak to their families to set expectations, and upon acceptance of the roles, help these individuals adapt at work through close mentorship and coaching.”

“The grants we receive through our partnership also enable us to implement assistive technology and adjustments to provide our Team Members with a conducive work environment. These include lowering door access buttons, creating ramps, changing uniform studs to Velcro, and marking wheelchair-priority seats. These efforts help us pave the way to ensure a high rate of successful integration,” she added.

The culture of diversity and inclusion at Marina Bay Sands has benefitted employees such as Mdm Lee Poh Tee, who was given the opportunity to join the team in 2017. As a Guest Service Agent in the Public Area Department, she said, “ I am grateful for an understanding team who helps me adapt to my work environment. As I wear a hearing aid, my supervisor often takes the initiative to speak to me after team briefings to ensure that I understood various details discussed. When I encounter any difficulties, I know I can count on my colleagues to guide me patiently and thoughtfully. I genuinely enjoy working at Marina Bay Sands and I think this will be my last job until I retire.”

Employing persons with disabilities is a progressive and highly rewarding journey as they bring important values to the workforce. They have helped foster a work culture of empathy, creativity, and collaboration. Ms Shona Ann Lowe, Executive Director, Casino Training and Game Development, Casino Operations, said, “Our current group of employees with disabilities has proven themselves to be outstanding performers who are contributing to the workplace just like any other employee.”

Ms Chan affirmed, “Today, we have 53 employees with disabilities across 13 departments, many of whom have progressed significantly in their careers with us. They bring their life experiences, strong work ethics, and valuable skillsets to our workforce.” 

Honoured with the Highest Accolade of the Accreditation

For its comprehensive approach, Marina Bay Sands was accredited with the Enabling Mark (Platinum) in 2021. The Enabling Mark is a national-level accreditation framework that benchmarks and recognises employers for their best practices and outcomes in disability-inclusive employment.

Ms Chan said, “Over the past 1½ years, we have seen a 40 per cent increase in the hiring of persons with disabilities. New functions such as Front Office under the Hotel division have come on board this meaningful journey.”

Generating Collective Impact

While our partnership with Marina Bay Sands has resulted in creating a more inclusive workplace for people with disabilities, we also work with Tote Board to support the development of a more inclusive society in Singapore. 

We have collaborated on many fronts - from growing critical government programmes and services through the Tote Board Social Service Fund to spurring innovative solutioning through the Enabling Lives Initiative (ELI) Grant. Through our partnership, Tote Board’s support in the disability sector has grown over the years. 

Tote Board also played a crucial role in the development of Enabling Village in 2015 - Singapore's first inclusive community space dedicated to integrating people with disabilities into the community. 

With the support of Tote Board, philanthropists, and corporations, Enabling Village will be expanded to do more and better for persons with disabilities. The four-storey extension, to be completed by 2024, will be a model for inclusion and innovation. 

By collaborating with organisations like Marina Bay Sands and Tote Board, we are building a more inclusive society where persons with disabilities are empowered to lead fulfilling lives and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Join us in our efforts to generate collective impact.  Find out more here.

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Quote in first image above reads: "In 2016, we ramped up our inclusive hiring efforts by partnering with SG Enable and SPD to create an inclusive work environment and to provide meaningful employment for persons with disabilities. We have benefitted from their guidance on workplace modifications, sharing of best practices, as well as identifying suitable candidates for available roles." -- Ms Chan Yit Foon, Senior Vice-President of Human Resources, Marina Bay Sands. 

Quote in third image above reads: "Tote Board has a long-standing partnership with SG Enable in making Singapore a more inclusive place. We are committed to doing more with our recent support of close to $22 million to help reach out to more persons with disabilities by expanding the Enabling Village. As SG Enable welcomes the new extension at the end of 2024, we are excited about the possibilities it would bring to the sector and look forward to deepening our partnerships." -- Mr Fong Yong Kian, Chief Executive, Tote Board.