Abstract:
People with disabilities (PWDs) are a leading minority group globally, that anyone
can become its member at any given time (Aroonsrimorakot, Laiphrakpan,
Nilthongkum et al., 2020). In addition to accidents, population ageing and chronic
health conditions such as diabetes contribute to the increasing prevalence of
disability (Alswang, Bandawe, Bastian et al., 2022). To its members, disability is an
obstacle to success. Gaining employment is an uphill struggle for PWDs, because
they face recruitment discrimination. When they have been successfully enrolled in
employment, they are confronted with human rights issues that exposes them to
innumerable challenges such as stigma, discrimination and all sorts of inequalities.
Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges that PWDs
encountered in the workplace in Maseru.
The study employed a qualitative research approach to investigate the challenges
and to achieve the objectives. The objectives of the study were to find out the
employer’s contribution to ‘reasonably accommodate’ workers with disabilities, to
explore the workplace relationships between PWDs and other employees and to
investigate the stigma experiences of PWDs in the workplace. In-depth interviews
were used to collect data from twelve people with disabilities, who were and have
been employed in Maseru. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used
in the collection of data. The data collected were analysed using thematic analysis.
The findings of the study indicated that stigma and discrimination were the most
pervasive and persistent barriers. The study confirmed that some participants with
disabilities were discriminated and stigmatised when they came for interviews and
others when they first reported for work. The participants were not ‘reasonably
accommodated’ in terms of transport provision, housing, support and the built
environment. Furthermore, the participants had strained relationships with both
colleagues and managers, they were discriminated during promotions and were
excluded in extra-mural activities. The findings suggest a need for interventions by
the employers to ‘reasonably accommodate’ workers with disabilities and to reduce
stigma especially enacted stigma that seems to prevail in the workplace, in Maseru.
