Human Rights Organizations’ Rally For Employing The Disabled And What It Entails?
Troubled by the alarming rate of unemployment and the unfair treatment of the physically challenged in the workplace and the society, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and other stakeholders including human right organizations are working frantically to put a stop to the growing trend.
According to the statistics given by the United Nations, as much as 70% of people in developed countries who are disabled are yet unemployed with as high as 90% in low-income countries.
In The US
Many To Go On A Rally To The State House For Disability Rights – 2018.
The effort to give a voice to persons with a disability was to be made with a rally at the State House. The conveners of the Advocacy Day for Access & Independence took the move to start a discussion affecting disabilities. Among the many topics, they are advocating for the employment of persons with disabilities. A director for Able South Carolina, Robbie Kopp, explained how it is important to close the gap between the employment of persons with disabilities and others.
According to him, there are still more than four thousand people in his state that are working in protected workshop structures where they’re remunerated below the minimum wage.
In Australia
Unions and workers are stepping out against payment calculation in the country. Some advocacy groups and unions are not at all happy about the discrimination in the way people with disabilities’ pay package is arrived at. They are demanding an increase. Owners of disability enterprise are however worried about this push. They believe they’ll find it a difficult one to comply with because it may not be viable for their business to implement. Towards the end of September 2017, workers in their large numbers and other stakeholders were out in the street of Wollongong with a campaign rally on the demand.
In Nigeria – 2013
These abilities Limited and Network on Disability and Business in conjunction with the ILO took steps to address the employment issues for the disabled in Nigeria. Other partners include Workforce Management Center, Gallaudet University Washington DC, Fate Foundation, Total Nigeria PLC and a host of others joined forces to help a change.
The purpose is to increase awareness on the gains of helping employment rates for individuals with disabilities. It also aims at sensitizing companies on enacted laws on disabilities in Lagos state. The challenges encountered by employers in hiring people with disabilities and strategies to overcome them were part of the discussions.
Dr. Gabriel Soje who is an assistant professor (Gallaudet University for the Deaf and the hearing-Impaired and Regular students, Washington DC) gave some highlights of the challenges at hand. He encouraged organizations to be more prepared and be open to being all-inclusive in their employment move to accommodate the deaf and by extension, other persons with disabilities.
All over the world, the International Day of persons with disabilities is a time to reflect on how to improve and protect rights of people with disabilities. Human rights organizations frequently use the time to give the adequate support needed to help improve common challenges such as employment opportunities.
