Towards Economic Empowerment for Disabled People: Exploring ...

1.7.3 Formal Sector Employment
Breaking into the open labour employment market may seem a daunting
proposition for many disabled people living in developing countries, who may
lack formal qualifications, vocational skills and even a basic education.
Additionally, they are likely to face a wide range of barriers, such as those
related to physical access and transportation, as well as deep prejudices and
discrimination within recruitment processes. Even if successful in finding a
job, a disabled person may be disadvantaged by a workplace not designed to
meet his or her needs, or be denied opportunities for career development
(Arthur & Zarb, 1995). The formal sector should not be ruled out, however, as
a source of economic opportunities for disabled people. Many countries
around the world, in the spirit of the UNCRPD, are now committed to
facilitating the participation of disabled people in the open labour market.
Schemes focusing on this route need to identify the opportunities that currently
exist in the formal sector, and to equip disabled people to take advantage of
those opportunities
1.8 Research Hypothesis
The UNCRPD places a clear emphasis on the importance of inclusion,
participation and equality. Countries that have signed and ratified the
Convention have thus committed themselves to facilitating economic
empowerment strategies that are based on the principles of removing societal
barriers, protecting rights and promoting mainstream opportunities for
disabled people, in both training and employment. These principles reflect the
logic of the social model. However, the continued existence of segregated
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