Unfriendly workplaces for PWDs

Employers should overcome mental barriers

There are ample researches and reports that clearly show that people with disabilities (PWDs) are not inefficient, rather our workplaces are poorly equipped to accommodate physically challenged people. Generally, PWDs are dedicated to their work and waste very little time in their workplace.

Lack of adequate transport, ramps, lifts and PWD friendly communication facilities hinders PWDs' access to workplaces. Most importantly, it is the mindset of the employers that is barring PWDs from getting decent jobs. Even the 10 percent quota reserved for PWDs remains unfulfilled. Being unemployed, most of them have to sit idle at home that only exacerbates their woes. If a PWD gets a decent job it contributes to the well-being of the family as well as to the economy. So we should consider it not only as a social responsibility but also an economic opportunity.

PWDs should be given the work they are comfortable with. The workplace should be constructed following the global standards to facilitate their access. There are many PWD friendly software and technologies, most of them are free, that need to be installed in the workplaces. Both the government and non-government bodies have to invest more in this regard. We should provide proper training to PWDs so that they can compete in the job market. The employers need to be made aware of the fact that PWDs are not a burden but a potential source of skilled workforce.

Source : The Daily Star , 25th Feb 2016