Many countries do not have legislation to promote and protect the rights of workers with disabilities which makes discrimination on the ground of hindering persons with disabilities from entering the labour market.
Talking to APP on Friday, Consultant Physician and Cardiologist Associate Professor Medicine of LUMHS, Jamshoro Dr Sohail Almani, emphasized the aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well being of persons with disabilities.
He also sought to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
Dr Sohail Almani said in every society very few persons with disabilities were gainfully employed and in most countries up to 80 percent of the persons with disabilities of working age were unemployed and most others were under-employed or will never have access to the labour market.
He said everywhere there was a sizable gap between the working conditions and employment trends of persons with disabilities and those without a disability.
He informed that all too often persons with disabilities were dependent upon begging, handouts, and welfare for their livelihood. The denial of opportunities and negative attitudes are the main reasons why persons with disabilities are disproportionably absent from the workforce, he added. Dr Sohail Almani said for many persons with disabilities in developing countries self-employment was the only option. He said these countries should consider ways that supported persons with disabilities in this area such as the inclusion of persons with disabilities in schemes such as micro-credit and micro-finance, which had largely excluded persons with disabilities as potential beneficiaries, added.
Dr Sohail Almani said in more developed countries, persons with disabilities still experience high rates of unemployment. He said business community would have greater roles to play in the social and economic integration of persons with disabilities.
He said the international day was an invaluable opportunity that should be seized by governments, business groups and persons with disabilities to discuss and formulate ways that allow persons with disabilities to participate fully in the labour market.
Dr Sohail Almani informed the government had devised a plan to ensure transparency in the distribution of Zakat and Baitul Mall and in addition it had distributed thousands of sewing machines among widows and poor women in various districts of the province, added.
He said their government had created numerous posts of various grades under special quota and appointed disabled people but it was not only the government’s responsibility but also philanthropists and welfare organisations should extend help for the rehabilitation of disabled people.