In an ever
changing and competitive workplace, employers increasingly value their
human resources---the women and men whose work results in the profits
and outcomes that keep companies and organizations in business.
Enlightened employers also realize their social responsibility to the
communities in which they operate---to all members of those communities,
including its disabled members.
A strong
business case exists for the inclusion and equal opportunity and
treatment of workers with disabilities in all aspects of a company’s
operations. The ILO’s
Code of Practice on Managing Disability in the Workplace provides
guidance to employers in including disabled persons in the work force.
The business case was further explored during an ILO/ESCAP Multinational Roundtable on
Disability and Employment.
Many
employers’ organizations, individual companies and multinational
organizations are beginning to promote disability from the business
and corporate social responsibility perspectives. Employer networks
and advisory councils (see the link below) are emerging in several
countries, most notably Sri Lanka and Cambodia. These groups promote
the training and hiring of disabled workers and provide technical
services to their members. Many companies are participating in
win-win partnerships to develop policies and programmes that provide
for the employment needs of disabled persons and the labour needs of
employers.
For
more information about the ILO perspective on how employers can
contribute to the development of policies, consult
ILO Convention concerning Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment
(Disabled Persons), 1983 (No. 159), which requires that
governments develop a national policy on vocational rehabilitation
in consultation with employers' and workers' organizations. The
accompanying
Recommendation No. 168 (1983) and
Recommendation No. 99 (1955) offer specific guidance for
employers’ organizations in promoting equal opportunity and
treatment of workers with disabilities.
By
exploring these Web pages you will learn about the business case for
hiring disabled workers as well as how employers can benefit from
further the equal opportunity and treatment of workers with
disabilities
