Awareness & Empowerment
The Tanzania Federation of Disabled People’s Organisations (SHIVYAWATA) has engaged private sector employers in discussions aimed at promoting more inclusive employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The engagement brought together SHIVYAWATA and private sector stakeholders to discuss some of the barriers that persons with disabilities continue to face when seeking employment, as well as practical measures that employers can take to make recruitment and workplaces more inclusive.
A key message from the engagement was the importance of assessing candidates based on their skills, qualifications and professional competencies rather than making assumptions based on disability.
Removing barriers from recruitment
During the discussions, attention was given to barriers that can prevent qualified persons with disabilities from participating fairly in recruitment processes.
These may include inaccessible job advertisements, application systems that are difficult to use with assistive technologies, inaccessible interview venues and other unnecessary requirements that can exclude qualified candidates.
SHIVYAWATA emphasized the importance of designing recruitment processes that allow candidates to demonstrate their abilities on an equal basis with other applicants.
Employers were also encouraged to consider reasonable workplace accommodations where required, including accessibility adjustments that enable employees with disabilities to perform their duties effectively.
Creating opportunities based on ability
Inclusive employment is not about lowering standards.
It is about ensuring that people have a fair opportunity to demonstrate what they can contribute.
Persons with disabilities possess diverse skills, qualifications, professional experience and entrepreneurial abilities. Creating accessible recruitment and workplace environments can help ensure that these abilities are recognised and utilised.
Through continued engagement with employers, SHIVYAWATA is working to promote a shift from approaches based on sympathy towards equal opportunity, participation and professional inclusion.
Working together for an inclusive labour market
The engagement also highlighted the importance of collaboration between disability organisations, employers, government institutions and other stakeholders in creating an employment environment where persons with disabilities can participate meaningfully.
This includes strengthening awareness among employers, improving accessibility throughout recruitment processes, addressing misconceptions about disability and promoting practical workplace inclusion.
SHIVYAWATA remains committed to working with stakeholders to promote employment opportunities that recognise ability, skills and potential.
“Remove the obstacles in job advertisements and selection procedures. Start with assessing the candidate’s capability, not their disability.”
The organisation will continue engaging employers and other stakeholders to encourage practical actions that contribute to a more inclusive labour market in Tanzania.
