Employment Challenges among Persons with Disabilities in Malaysia

Abdul Razak Abd Manaf,Siti Zubaidah Othman,Mohd Faizal Mohd Isa,Wan Shakizah Mohd Mohd Noor,Norizan Azizan

doi:10.6007/ijarbss/v9-i10/6469

Abdul Razak Abd Manaf, Siti Zubaidah Othman + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v9-i10/6469

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Abstract

Job participation among the disabled in Malaysia remains a complex issue. Despite the initiative and efforts being undertaken by various parties, this widely debated topic yet to be solved amicably. With the emergence of information and communication technology, the field of employment for persons with disabilities should have changed and created a new horizon for the disabled where they can work from home. But, the number of disabled employed by public or private organizations remained small. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to explore employment issues among Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Malaysia. To uncover these issues, input from 225 employed PWDs themselves were solicited through an on-site semi-structured interview. The results showed that among the crucial issues surrounding employability of PWDs in the workforce were due to negative perceptions from employers and peers, accessibility issues, lack of training, lack of support from family and personal attributes of PWDs themselves. Based on the findings of the study, several suggestions and recommendations were put forward to increase participation of PWDs in the workforce.

Highlights

Though many companies acknowledge that persons with disabilities are productive, reliable, hardworking and loyal, the reality shows that Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are not getting equal employment opportunities
Based on the statistic given by the human resource management information system database, until May 2015 only 2,985 PWDs are working in public sector (Statistik Pekerjaan dan Perburuhan Kementerian Sumber Manusia, 2015)
Based on the findings, the following are some of the recommendations to increase the participation of PWDs in employment

Summary

Introduction

Though many companies acknowledge that persons with disabilities are productive, reliable, hardworking and loyal, the reality shows that PWDs are not getting equal employment opportunities. Based on the statistic given by the human resource management information system database, until May 2015 only 2,985 PWDs are working in public sector (Statistik Pekerjaan dan Perburuhan Kementerian Sumber Manusia, 2015). Even though the number might be increasing since still it is not convincing or encouraging. PWDs working in the public sector by category of disabilities.

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