Many well-educated disabled persons are denied jobs, hindering their effort to live independently. Given the plight of qualified disabled persons, one can only imagine the barriers faced by the vast majority of persons with disabilities who are less educated or skilled.
The employment of disabled people has been a challenging issue for a long time. Unemployment makes them a burden not only to their families, but also to society. Dependence on others causes discrimination and violence. Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have their confidence sapped and will power sapped, which makes them lose their dignity.
The lack of employment opportunities is one of the barriers to disabled people’s empowerment, and that usually creates many problems for them at home and in society to live their lives in peace, happiness, and dignity.
No one wants to remain jobless, but the environment and the status quo sometimes keep them so. Disabled people’s unemployment is entirely a social problem. Causes behind these problems are tied to attitudes, and the unwillingness to change.
Society still believes that disabled people are not able to work. Their mindset regarding disabilities is that they should live on charity and the mercy of others. Structures are built which are not disability-friendly, or are inaccessible to disabled persons. That is discriminatory. Communications and transport facilities are also not favourable towards disabled people.
Ask any disabled person about the main problems they face living in society. Invariably the answer is lack of employment opportunities and discrimination. Disability is not their main factor, and neither is the will to work. People at large still feel that those who are disabled should depend on charity alone. But charity does not remove the root cause of discrimination in society, bringing about only temporary changes.
What challenges isolate PWDs from employment opportunities? The first is the lack of access to financial capital. Banks and microfinance institutions have no specific development agenda for disabled people. Loan procedures of the banking sector still favour the rich and discourage the poor and the marginalised.
A representative of a disabled women’s organisation said that at present, disabled women were producing handicrafts, but there was no scope for those to be marketed. Their technical skills did not match labour market requirements, especially in the corporate sector.
Other causes were the scarcity of career counselling and employment services, the lack of labour market information, discrimination in employment and training, and lack of quality jobs.
The Disability Welfare Act 2001 supported disabled people’s employment in Bangladesh at first. After two years, a government circular announced a 10% quota for orphans and disabled people in third and fourth class government jobs, but the implementation of it was largely ignored.
The prime minister first announced in the National Disability Convention organised by ADD on October 19, 2009, a 1% quota for disabled people in first class government jobs including civil service (BCS) jobs. The cabinet had approved that in 2012, but when it will be implemented remains a question.
BGMEA was issued a circular on October 20, 2011, ensuring employment opportunities for disabled people in the garment sector. It was mentioned that about 200 disabled women were working in 65 garment factories in Dhaka City Corporation. Disabled women have now proven that often they are more skilled and sincere about their work than many who are not disabled. The management of factories are quite happy with their performance.
Rikta is physically disabled due to rheumatic fever. She had a passion for education. She completed her secondary education, and in 2012, made dramatic changes to her life when a field worker from ADD included her name as a beneficiary. After that, Rikta got trained in garments sewing machine operations, techniques of marking and styling, and safety standards.
After her training, she got a job as quality checker with a salary of Tk4,000 in a garment factory at North Badda. Now her monthly salary is above Tk8,000. The garment factory at first refused her employment because of her disability, but through advocacy and a demonstration of her skills, they finally agreed.
Rikta is now very happy because she has become an earner. With her income, she is not only managing her family but is continuing her studies. She is helping her sick mother seek treatment. She has proved that if anyone has the willingness, courage, and opportunity, they can turn their life around.
Doors of garment industries are now open for PWDs. They just need to develop the skills. Above 200 organisations at different levels are actively working across the country, and thus it is easy to organise disabled persons.
The initiatives of enlightened development workers are needed. Organisations that are solvent, and believe in social responsibility and human rights, could stand beside PWDs in this commendable work. The joint work in garments and NGOs will mitigate the job crisis for PWDs. We should do all we can to make the disabled our resources, and not our burdens.