Abstract

Work is an important part of life, providing both economic security and a forum to contribute one’s talents and skills to society, thereby anchoring the individual in a social role. However, access to work is not equally available to people with disabilities globally. Regulatory environments that prohibit discrimination and support vocational training and educational opportunities constitute a critical first step toward economic independence. However, they have not proven sufficient in themselves. In this article, we aim to infuse deeper consideration of employer practice and demand-side policy reforms into global policy discussions of the right to work for people with disabilities. We begin by documenting the employment and economic disparities existing for people with disabilities globally, followed by a description of the international, regional, and local regulatory contexts aiming to improve labor market outcomes for people with disabilities. Next, we examine how policies can leverage employer interests to further address inequalities. We discuss employer policies and practices demonstrated in the research to facilitate recruitment, hiring, career development, retention, and meaningful workplace inclusion. The goal of the article is to synthesize existing international literature on employment rights for people with disabilities with the employer perspective.

Highlights

  • Work is an important part of life

  • One analysis found that most Pacific Island states lacked appropriately comprehensive frameworks for enforcement (Harpur & Bales, 2010). While it is outside the scope of this article to provide a comprehensive review of disability policy worldwide, we provide some instructive examples of the various contextual issues at national and regional levels, those that touch upon employer practices, interest convergence, and policies that encourage employer action

  • By framing the discussion starting with broad public policy directives and challenges, zooming in to nation-level strategies for facilitating private sector buy-in and later to actual employer practices, we hope that we have helped to apply a rudimentary taxonomy to the complicated task of converting broad international directives into real-world changes at the market and organizational levels

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Work is an important part of life. It is a source of economic power, and social and personal wellbeing. Scholars describe individual rights primarily in relation to governmental action and enforcement Both approaches tend to overlook “the fact that labor market outcomes such as employment are determined when the supply of individuals’ labor aligns with demand for labor on the part of employers” Familiar thematic barriers emerge in many disparate national contexts These include tensions arising between employees with disabilities and employers due to legislative efforts, immoderate belief in the perceived fairness of open labor market practices, and reliance on stereotypes about people with disabilities’ lack of productivity or the expense of accommodating (Harpur & Bales, 2010). The expansion of educational opportunities, demand-driven skills training, rehabilitation services, and career development opportunities for people with disabilities are of paramount importance (ILO, 2010)

International Framework for Employment and Training
Approaches to Implementation
The Importance of Employer Practices
Findings
Conclusion
Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.