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Employment Of Persons With Disabilities In The Spotlight

Employment Of Persons With Disabilities In The Spotlight

Fewer people with disabilities are employed in South Africa while the employment situation of other designated groups, such as blacks and women, is improving.

This is according to research conducted by Dr Anton van Staden, who delivered a keynote address at a breakfast session hosted by the Durban University of Technology, Institute of People Management (IPM) and SASCE (Southern African Society for Co-operative Education) at the Hilton Hotel earlier this week (Tuesday April 23, 2013).

Dr van Staden is the Chief Director of Social Organisation and Youth Development in the Department of Rural Development, Pretoria. His presentation – based on his PhD thesis titled “A Strategy for the Employment of Persons with Disability” which he completed in 2011 – focused on the constraints to the employment of persons with disabilities and the human resource management strategy he has developed to enhance the employment of more persons with disabilities.

While the South African government has set a 2 percent employment target for persons with disabilities, disabled people currently make up 1 percent of the country’s total workforce in both government and the private sector.

This can be attributed to the following factors, among others:

– The employment of disabled people is not a strategic focus for organisations.

– Key people in organisations such as top, senior and middle management are not sufficiently committed to disability management. Middle management, subordinates, peers and other employees are even less committed to this matter.

– Organisations lack clear written guidelines and policies on the employment of persons with disabilities.

– Performance management practice is inadequate in respect to persons with disabilities.

– Negative perceptions exist around the employment of disabled people, such as that persons with disabilities cannot perform physically strenuous work; it is more expensive to hire physically disabled people and that managing such persons is difficult.

“In this chase for profitability, disability is seen as an issue that won’t make money for us. That’s not a correct perception. Disabled people say there’s nothing wrong with them, but that it’s about the environment in which they live that prevents them from participating on a more level footing in the workplace. Some of the basic things that can be done aren’t expensive. Government has done everything. Legislative and policy frameworks are there but it’s up to us as employers to use them,” said Dr van Staden.

His research also found that great confusion still exists around the legal definition of persons living with disability. There is however research, especially in France, looking into the definition.
“The reasons why disabled employees are leaving (the workplace) are known but little is being done to correct it resulting in persons with disabilities not being retained. Not one organisation responded positively to say that disability is an issue in their bargaining agenda,” said Dr van Staden.

Presenting his solutions, Dr van Staden said a definition of disability that is understandable and one that everyone is comfortable with needs to be recorded. He also said guidelines to the accessibility requirements and reasonable accommodation for persons with disability need to be developed.

“Awareness needs to be created around the legislative and policy framework (of persons living with disability) and implementation (of these frameworks) needs to be enforced by top management. Organisations must also set fair and equitable employment targets for persons living with disability. Rather than unions buying into this agenda, let us as employers bring it to the table. If we implement these strategies, they can work, but firstly, we must agree that managers and human resource managers must ensure that policies are implemented. The South African constitution prioritises disability. We should find out what the law says. Business owners will tell you that the economy is tough. We understand that. We must start slowly and do this cleverly and wisely. Employers should understand the external factors which persons with disabilities face on a daily basis. We need to consider these as employers,” said Dr van Staden.

– Sinegugu Ndlovu

Pictured: Nic Williamson, IPM KZN Chairman; Dr Anton van Staden and Shakeek Ori; the Director of Co-operative Education at DUT at the breakfast session hosted by DUT, IPM and SASCE at the Hilton Hotel.

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