Exploring Employer’s Practices for Persons Living with Disabilities and Employers' Implementation of the Persons with Disability Act in Zambia: A Qualitative Study
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employment, disability, public sector, persons living with disability, disability act
Abstract
Purpose: The study aimed to explore the employers’ practices for persons living with disabilities and employer’s implementation post-enactment of the Persons with Disability Act No. 6 of 2012 in the public sector.
Material and method: A qualitative phenomenological study design was used, and data was gathered through in-depth interviews with human resource directors, managers, and commissioners. A total of eight participants took part in the in-depth interviews. The analysis was performed using Atlas.ti version 7 software. To allow the themes to emerge from the data, thematic analysis using an inductive approach was used.
Results: Only a few persons living with disabilities were employed at the headquarters of the three government organizations. The study found that employers mainly use the Employment Act and do not take the Persons with Disability Act no. 6 of 2012 into account when recruiting. Furthermore, the majority demonstrated a lack of knowledge of the provisions enabling disability inclusion in workplaces as well as awareness of the Persons with Disability Act no. 6 of 2012.
Conclusions: The study emphasizes the gap between developing and implementing Disability Act policies. Raising awareness of the Persons with Disability Act No.6 of 2012 and its provisions supporting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workforce, as well as strengthening employers’ knowledge of these policies is essential for its successful implementation.
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