Unilever Pakistan Limited today formalised a partnership with the Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF) aimed at systematically integrating members of the Deaf community into its salesforce and broader value chain, addressing a critical gap in workforce inclusivity.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), FESF, through its established Deaf Reach network, will support Unilever in recruiting Deaf candidates for its extensive sales operations. The collaboration is designed to build a more inclusive hiring pipeline and furnish both the company and its new recruits with essential tools for effective workplace communication.
To ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible, FESF will provide Pakistan Sign Language (PSL) interpretation during interviews and will facilitate coordination between applicants and Unilever teams. The agreement also mandates a minimum of two structured PSL training sessions for Unilever”s staff and supervisors to foster basic communication skills with their Deaf colleagues.
The initiative further includes the delivery of Deaf awareness and sensitisation workshops for the existing Unilever workforce. These sessions will cover aspects of Deaf culture, appropriate communication methods, and strategies for tackling unconscious bias, reinforcing the company’s wider equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDand I) objectives.
Selected candidates will undergo a pre-employment training programme designed to prepare them for their new roles. The curriculum covers workplace readiness, established communication protocols, and job-specific skills such as familiarity with sales routes and basic reporting procedures.
‘At the heart of this partnership is a simple belief-that opportunity should be accessible to all,’ stated Munir Hasan, Country Head of Customer Development at Unilever Pakistan. ‘By working with FESF, we are not only opening doors for the Deaf community, but also shaping our workplaces and sales ecosystem to enable every individual to contribute and succeed.’
Echoing this sentiment, Richard Geary, Founder and Director of FESF, noted the collaboration’s dual benefit. ‘Through this collaboration, we are enabling greater access to dignified employment for Deaf individuals while supporting organizations in becoming more inclusive and accessible in their practices,’ he added.
This agreement marks a continued effort by Unilever Pakistan to bolster its commitment to diversity and inclusion, reflecting a broader focus on creating accessible and supportive environments where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive professionally.