The Invisible Struggle
Employment problems of Special Persons
Pakistan is a country of over 220 million people, but millions of them are living with different forms of disabilities that affect their physical, mental, cognitive, or sensory abilities. These persons with disabilities (PWDs) face multiple challenges in accessing education, training, skills, and employment opportunities that could enable them to participate in the social and economic life of the country. As a result, they are often marginalized, discriminated, and excluded from the mainstream society.
According to the UNDP, nearly 6.2% of the Pakistanis have some form of disability. However, other estimates suggest that this proportion could be much higher, ranging from 3.3 million to 27 million. The lack of accurate statistics and data on PWDs is one of the major obstacles in addressing their needs and rights. There is also no specific data on the employment status of PWDs, but a World Bank report estimated that 71 per cent of disabled people in Pakistan are unemployed.
The unemployment of PWDs has both direct and indirect economic implications for the country. On one hand, it deprives the PWDs of their income, dignity, and empowerment. On the other hand, it reduces the productivity, growth, and development potential of the country. A study by the British Council estimated that the exclusion of PWDs from employment could be costing the economy between 4.9% and 6.3% of GDP each year.
The reasons for the unemployment of PWDs are complex and multifaceted. They include the lack of awareness, accessibility, affordability, and availability of quality education and training for PWDs, the negative attitudes and stereotypes of employers and society towards PWDs, the inadequate legal and policy frameworks and their implementation to protect the rights and interests of PWDs, and the insufficient provision of infrastructure and assistive technology to facilitate the mobility and functionality of PWDs.
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Pakistan has taken some steps to address these issues in recent years. The country has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2011 and passed the Disabilities Rights Act in 2020. The provinces have also formulated their own laws for PWDs. The federal government has a 2% quota for PWDs in public sector employment, which is also applicable to the private sector. The Supreme Court has issued two rulings in 2020 to instruct the federal and provincial governments to ensure the implementation of the existing laws and quotas for PWDs and to update the statistics regarding PWDs.
However, these measures are not enough to overcome the challenges faced by PWDs in Pakistan. There is a need for a more comprehensive and holistic approach that involves the participation and consultation of PWDs and their representative organizations, the coordination and collaboration of all relevant stakeholders, including the government, the private sector, the civil society, and the international community, and the allocation and mobilization of adequate resources and capacities to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of services and support for PWDs.
The inclusion of PWDs in the workforce is not only a matter of human rights and social justice, but also a matter of economic and social development. PWDs have the potential and the aspiration to contribute to the progress and prosperity of Pakistan, if given the opportunity and the environment to do so. By empowering and enabling PWDs to access and participate in employment, Pakistan can benefit from the diversity, creativity, and innovation of its human capital and create a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable society for all.
Keywords :
1. Pakistan
2. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
3. UNDP
4. Disability statistics
5. Employment opportunities
6. Unemployment
7. Economic implications
8. Disabilities Rights Act
9. Quota for PWDs
10. Inclusion in the workforce
