Callousness of employers towards differently abled

Roshantha Fernando

DISCRIMINATION: The print and electronic media has been highlighting the discrimination of disabled persons as well as accessibility to public places under the caption "giving the differently abled a fair deal".

This is timely and accurately analyse the predicament of the differently abled and the indifference of society, the employers in particular towards this social problem. While letters and articles have regularly been published in the newspapers and various institutions and establishments have commented on this intricate social problem and also asserted that it should be pursued as a "corporate social responsibility" most institutions regrettably have adopted a rather nonchalant attitude.

I am aware of numerous cases of persons seeking employment being discriminated essentially on the ground of physical disability. A mother wrote of her daughter's experience which was traumatic. A qualified accountant thirty four years married

 with one child sustained severe injuries in an unfortunate car accident six years ago when the car went off the road. She recovered after treatment in Sri Lanka and abroad and her mental faculties are perfect. There is a slight disfigurement on her face despite extensive plastic surgery and she has to use a crutch to get about.

While she can perform her professional accounting and allied duties without any impediment no employer is ready to offer her a job. Since she was on part time employment before the accident as she was nursing infant daughter, after the accident, her services were subtly terminated. Since recovery she has attended over 35 interviews without success.

While applying she makes it a point to say she is after an accident and with a slight disability assuring that it will not be an impediment to perform her duties.

However when she appears for the selection interview she is discriminated only on the grounds of her slight disability. From the moment she walks in for the interview she knows from the body language of the interviewer that there is no hope.

The mother writes, "my daughter has virtually lost faith in humanity. The indifference, lack of empathy and callous attitude of some of the persons who have interviewed her has shattered her morale.

Some Chief Executive Officers, Human Resources Managers and Directors have told her that in her present state she cannot be considered and in some instances she was not even offered a seat.

This callous attitude by Human Resources Managers in particular has been deplorable. At one particular interview when my daughter painstakingly explained her present disability will not affect the performance of her duties the interviewer asked her "What about domestic work, does it affect your sex life?" My daughter walked away in utter disgust.

I must state emphatically that this letter is neither for sympathy or an attempt to obtain employment for my daughter but to make the readers aware of the trials and tribulations of the employable disabled. I am certain that many other disabled persons may have experienced this type of frustration and humiliation in seeking employment."

Despite the assurances by the Minister of Labour and the National Disability Policy regrettably no tangible action has been taken to help the disabled to obtain employment.

Except for the Employers Federation of Sri Lanka which I am aware of has been continuously trying to impress upon its Corporate members of the obligation to help the disabled, the Sri Lanka Institute of Personnel Management and the various Chambers of Trade and Commerce have failed to do anything. In fact The Sri Lanka Institute of Personnel Management has totally ignored this problem.

While I sought the advice and assistance of the Institute some time ago it was totally indifferent and failed to understand the seriousness of the problem. On behalf of the numerous other disabled but employable persons who may be struggling to secure some gainful employment, I appeal to the Government and social service organisations to initiate some meaningful action. Regrettably most NGOs operating in this country do not believe in the concept of "Equal Opportunities", and apparently do not believe in the concept of "Equal Opportunities".

What has been most disappointing is the attitude of the Sri Lanka Institute of Personnel Management, considering the callous attitude of most Human Resources Managers towards this social problem and the reluctance to employ the employable disabled. Regrettably it has not taken any tangible action to correct this attitude among the Human Resources Managers.

The Institute of Personnel Management should take up the matter of discrimination on grounds of disability, in all seriousness and educate its members and create awareness among them as to the rights of the disabled and the need to treat them humanly.

The disabled of today needs "Chance and Charity".

At present these unfortunate persons who are openly discriminated may be asking themselves where are the equal opportunities that are so much spoken about? Why is this callous attitude? Apart from depriving us of employment, why are we humiliated and embarrassed?

What is ironical is that most of these differently abled persons are qualified and are very capable and productive. Statistics has shown in foreign countries these persons are always on time to work and rarely get absent. If their mental faculties are perfectly fine and if they can work in an office where their disability will not impede their performance why discriminate these persons?

This country has largely ignored the significant section of its people who happen to suffer from some sort of disability but recent efforts by the corporate sector to pay attention to their special needs and offer them employment augurs well for the future.

Some have taken to call in this unfortunate section of society (differently abled) in an apparently well meaning attempt to move the adverse connotation that are associated with the word disabled. Whether or not this is the right attitude that remains to be seen, the fact remains that the need of these people must be addressed in a more practical and organised manner by both the government and the private sector.

We cannot boast about our achievement and economic and social advancement, about our rising income levels and industrialisation if we continue to neglect this section of society and their families who must share their suffering.