The Working Conditions of Persons With Disabilities: The Case of Two Productions Centers in Addis Ababa
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study attempted to find out the problems with the working conditions
of persons with disabilities. In the s tudy, a total of twenty nine
participants we re taken and qualitative method of study was employed to
collect data. The participants were fourteen p ersons with different
disabilities, ten workers with out disabilities, two managers, two workers'
Representatives who were taken from the two production centers named,
The society of Rehabilitation for the Blind and Handicapped and Yehager
Tibeb Mederaja Dirijit and an officer from The Ethiopian Federation of
Persons with Disabilities. The main method of data collection was
interview. In addition, focus group discussion and informal talk were used
to support the data obtained through the interview. The study found out
that financial problem is the major obs tacle for the ce nters to fulfill the
needs of workers with different disabilities. The centers aim at enabling
PWDs independent and productive citizens. The workers are engaged in
the type of work, which is not updated. Because of this it is hard for them
to compete in the market. To improve the mode of production, there is a
need to give training or employ skilled manpower. In addition to this, lack
of coordination with NGOs, aid agencies and other parties who work on
disability areas make the problem worse. Lack of welfare, occupational
safety and health services are also sited as problems of PWDs at the work
place. They also have shortage of raw materials for the production and
need some adaptations with the equipment, occupational safety and
health services. Therefore, according to the findings, to make good working
conditions for persons with different disabilities, there is a need for strong
effort. Some recommendations were made based on the findings
particularly in relation to the active role of NGOs, aid agencies and other
concerned bodies have to play. According to the finding, PWDs are facing
challenges in their working conditions. Thus, employers, the society and
other concerned bodies s hould give special attention to enable workers
with different disabilities to have a decent work which is free from
phys ical barriers and play a great role to overcome their many faceted
problems.
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Keywords
Conditions of Persons With Disabilities