Corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities conducted by the
private sector for people with disabilities should go further than just
one-off donations, and be extended to providing fair employment to them,
said Senator Bathmavathi Krishnan .
"CSR should not be a one-off event or a one-off action. It should be a commitment where you offer sustainable opportunities. You help a person become economically independent by offering a job, or you could help them renovate their house to be more accessible," said Bathmavathi.
Bathmavathi, who is also the Malaysian Confederation for the Disabled secretary, was commenting on the current CSR habits of Malaysia's private sector.
"When companies say they have community service efforts, they usually do this during festive seasons such as donations to disability organisations and inviting people with disabilities to parties and feasts - and that they call CSR, as part of their corporate social responsibility. They have to go beyond that," she said.
Bathmavathi, who spoke to The Star Online after delivering
the opening speech at the launch of the Hiruscar Beautiful campaign here
recently, pointed out that the right to equal employment was laid down
in Section 29 of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008.
Section 29(1) of the Act reads: "Persons with disabilities shall have the right to access to employment on equal basis with persons without disabilities."
Additionally, Bathmavathi pointed out that Section 29(3) of the Act touched on the "social obligation" of employers - both in the public and private sector.
Section 29(3) reads that "employers, shall in performing their social obligation endeavour to promote stable employment for people with disabilities by properly evaluating their abilities, providing suitable places of employment and conducting proper employment management."
However, Bathmavathi pointed out that employers often took the easy way out by not employing those with disabilities as the Act lacked any means of punishment for breaching its provisions.
"There is no penalty if they discriminate against people with disabilities by refusing to hire them. If they do that, they are not treating them as equal citizens under Article 8(1) of the Federal Constitution," she said.
Under Article 8(1), all persons are equal under the law and are entitled to the full protection of the law.
Bathmavathi also explained what she meant in her speech about the
"attitudinal barrier" faced by persons with disabilities in Malaysian
society, saying that the barrier occurred when the private sector denies
them jobs by not making themselves aware of the provisions of the Act.
"Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to the workplace such as ramps for wheelchair users, accessible lifts and furniture. However, I have heard from persons with disabilities they were not hired despite having the qualifications under the reasoning that the workplace is not accessible," she said.
She cited a company in Kedah that found its productivity increasing after hiring deaf employees.
"The company had fewer issues with work ethics, such as attendance problems after hiring them," said Bathmavathi.
In her speech, Bathmavathi said there were those in society, especially those with physical impairments and specific conditions who faced challenges as a result of living in a society that did not cater to all the needs of PWDs.
"As a result we face exclusion from mainstream society. Among the physical, environmental, and social barriers it is the social barrier, particularly the attitudinal barrier that poses the greatest obstacle to an inclusive society," she said in her speech.
She praised some CSR efforts such as the Hiruscar Beautiful campaign, which saw three people, namely motivational speaker Jenny Pong Seow Chin, 48, Dr Ahmad Anas Abdul Majid, 26, and psychology student Keisha Petrus, 24, receiving the Hiruscar Beautiful Award.
"I applaud this CSR initiative by DKSH and Medinova, because it is a novel idea towards creating an inclusive society where everyone is accepted. It allows people to share their experiences living with scars, that has made them stronger today," said Bathmavathi.
Meanwhile, in response, Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said hiring of people with disabilities was not a CSR activity.
Instead, he said they should be part-and-parcel of the normal hiring activities of a company.
"I don't consider it a CSR matter, as employers should always give employment to people with disabilities," said Shamsuddin.
He added that all disabled people who met the employment prerequisites of a company should be hired and not discriminated against.
"We ought to give them the same opportunities as able-bodied people.
When we look into disable persons, we have to look into their abilities
and the suitability of these people for the work they applying to do,"
said Shamsuddin, he said Monday.
"They should be considered as part of human resources and a contributor to the company's growth," said Shamsuddin.
Source : The Star Online , 14th April 2014
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