Ensuring the Right to Equal Employment Opportunities of Persons with Disabilities: Critical Examination of the Ethiopian Legal Framework.
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Date
2012-06
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Addis Ababa Unversity
Abstract
In spite of being numerically a significant portion of the Ethiopian society, PWDs are
the most poverty stricken. There are many factors that directly or indirectly contribute
toward this state of affairs. But one factor that stands out, above all the others is their
lack of equal employment opportunities. It is evident that, employment empowers
individuals economically, gives them the mandate to define their own course of life,
enhance their sense of self-worth and gives them the chance to contribute to the society.
The legislative framework in place is one critical element that makes difference to the
attainment of equal employment opportunities of PWDs. In principle, employment
should be based on the competence of the person with disability and the business needs
of the employer. Persons with disabilities should not be employed on grounds of mere
compassion or corporate social responsibility.
Within this general framework, the contention of this thesis is that the legislative
measures taken in Ethiopia should provide for alternative employment measures that
widen the access to equal employment opportunities and at the same time took into
account the heterogeneous nature of People with disabilities. As such, options such as
supported employment, sheltered employment, job retention and return to work that
are repackaged into business approach in contradistinction to the welfare approach
should be promoted side by side with the open labour market option. It is from this
point of view that the thesis examines the relevant laws and policies in Ethiopia.
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Keywords
Ensuring the Right, Equal Employment, Opportunities