Unilever Pakistan, FESF partner to expand employment opportunities for Deaf community
Unilever Pakistan Limited has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF) to facilitate greater inclusion of members of Deaf community in the workforce, with a structured programme focused on recruitment, training, and workplace integration.
While Unilever Pakistan has worked on similar initiatives for their own operations, under this agreement, FESF, through its Deaf Reach network, will support Unilever Pakistan in hiring Deaf candidates for the salesforce and the extended value chain. The collaboration aims to create a more inclusive hiring pipeline while equipping both employees and employers with the tools required for effective workplace communication.
To ensure accessibility throughout the recruitment process, FESF will provide Pakistan Sign Language (PSL) interpretation support during interviews and coordination between candidates and Unilever teams. Additionally, at least two structured PSL training sessions will be conducted for Unilever staff and supervisors to enable basic communication with Deaf employees.
FESF will deliver Deaf awareness and sensitization sessions for Unilever employees, focusing on Deaf culture, communication practices, and addressing unconscious bias, aligning with Unilever’s broader equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) agenda.
“At the heart of this partnership is a simple belief—that opportunity should be accessible to all. 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,” said Munir Hasan, Country Head, Customer Development at Unilever Pakistan.
The programme will also include pre-employment training for selected candidates, covering workplace readiness, communication protocols, and role-specific skills such as sales route familiarity and basic reporting.
Reflecting the same commitment, Richard Geary, Founder & Director, FESF, added, “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.”
Unilever Pakistan continues to strengthen its commitment to diversity and inclusion by encouraging equitable opportunities across its workforce. The company’s ongoing efforts reflect a broader focus on creating accessible, supportive environments that enable individuals from all backgrounds to contribute and succeed.