PWDs ask to be considered for the youth livelihood programme

May 08, 2018

According to a recent study carried out in the country, about 4,250,000 PWDs accounting for 85% are unemployed.

PIC: MP for People with Disabilities Hon Alex Ndeezi (Left) with the Director of Labour Employment and Occupational Safety and Health, Martin Wandera shaking hands during the programme launch  at hotel Africana (Credit: Shamim Saad)

 

YOUTH LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMME
 
KAMPALA - Persons with disability (PWDs) have requested Government through Ministry of Gender to let them be part of the ongoing youth livelihood programme (YLP).

This will enable them access funds, start-up income generating activities thus improving their livelihoods as individuals and their families.

The YLP is a Government development programme under the custodian of Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD), targeting poor and unemployed youth to harness their social-economic potential and increase self-employment opportunities and income levels with a budget of 265 billion Uganda shillings.

Speaking during the launch of the Make 12.4% work programme held at Hotel Africana last week; The Light For the World (LFTW) disability inclusive advisor, Ambrose Murangira, noted that, basing on interactions he has had with youths with disability, many are complaining that were left out of the programme.

"Though the program was meant to be inclusive, PWDs have been left behind in this initiative. We ask Government to consider them and include them in the programme, so that they access funds and start-up self-employment initiatives," he said.

Murangira decried limited employment opportunities for PWDs in both Government ministries, agencies and departments as well as in the private sector, noting that though many of them have qualifications and potential to work, negative attitudes attached to disability has barred them from being employed.
 
According to a recent study carried out in the country, about 4,250,000 PWDs accounting for 85% are unemployed.

The disability demands report released last year revealed that only 25% of the private sector and civil society organisations sampled had provision for disability in their human resource policies.
 
On the economic side of not employing PWDs, a study conducted by the International Labor Organisation (ILO) recently revealed that the country makes a loss of 7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).


Ministry of Gender signs MOU

Giving a key note address, the director for labour, employment, occupational safety and health, ministry of gender, Martin Wandera revealed that the ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with LFTW and Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE) to main stream issues of PWDs to ensure that in all human resource policies starting with Government ministries cater for the employment needs of PWDs.

Ndeezi appending his signature during the programme launch of make 12.4% work initiative at hotel Africana on Thursday. (Credit: Shamim Saad)

He said human resource in most organisations do not appreciate PWDs, even if one has potential, they are often mischarged during interview panels, thus losing out on jobs.

"We have many educated PWDs with a lot of potential, do not judge them on the onset, give them a chance to sit for interviews and if the individual meets the necessary requirements, hire them," Wandera advised.

The Member of Parliament for PWDs, Alex Ndezi applauded the initiators of Make 12.4% programme saying it will see many organisations open doors of employment for PWDs.
 

Make 12.4% work program

This refers to the percentage of Uganda's population with disabilities. It aims at triggering private sector and civil society actors to open employment opportunities and programmes to persons with disabilities.

Companies and organizations that become part of the program will serve as a proof that people with disabilities have abilities like everybody else. The initiative will start with 12 businesses and mainstream organisations that have opened their doors to persons with disabilities.

 

 

 

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