Employment Status of Persons with Disabilities in The Gambia
The Gambia faces challenges regarding the employment of persons with disabilities, with a prevalence rate of 2.4%. Despite progress in areas like education and health, poverty rates remain high, particularly in rural areas. Data shows the prevalence of physical disabilities and employment status among persons with disabilities in The Gambia.
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Conference on Employment Status of Persons with Disabilities in OIC Member Countries: Raising Awareness & Employment Opportunities Organized by: SESRIC - Istanbul, Turkey. Date: 26- 28 October,2016. Presentation on the Islamic Republic of The Gambia.
PRESENTATION OUTLINE Background Data on Disability Experiences in PWDs employment Challenges Possible solutions
Background The Gambia, was ranked 172 out of 187 countries in the 2014 UN Human Development Index. With an annual growth rate of 3.3 per cent, the projected population stands at 1.9 million with s disability prevalence rate of 2.4% (National Census, 2013). Life expectancy is 63.4 years (Gambian Bureau of Statistics (GBoS), 2007). The Gambia is among the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa that have registered substantial progress towards the attainment of the MDGs especially in education, health and gender, some of which have already been achieved. under-five mortality declined from 109 to 54 deaths per 1,000 live births (MICS 2010 and DHS 2013). Poverty rate is 48.4% living below US$1 per person per day (IHS2010). Income poverty remains concentrated in rural areas, particularly among households headed by subsistence farmers and unskilled workers (with poverty rates of 79.3 percent and 65.4 percent, respectively).
Cont The Gambia is located midway on the bulge of the West Africa coast and stretches over 400 kilometers inland. The country s land area is 10,689 square kilometers almost equally into two halves: the South Bank and the North Bank. The Gambian climate is typically Sahelian, with a long dry season from November to May and a short rainy season between June and October. The Gambian economy continues to recover from the drought experienced in 2011, which caused a decrease in GDP of 4.3 percent. This was due to a fall in crop production of about 40 percent (MoA, 2013).
DATA ON DISABILITY The total prevalence of any physical disability among household members age 7-69 is 3%; 2 percent have difficulty seeing, less than 1% have difficulty hearing, and slightly over 1% have difficulty using their limbs. Very few household members age 7-69 (less than 1%) use crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. Physical disability increases with increasing age, reaching its peak at 13% among individuals age 55-64. There are no major variations by sex, residence, or wealth. The prevalence of physical disability is lowest among those living in Basse (1%) and highest among those living in Banjul and Janjanbureh (6% each). In addition, physical disability is most common among individuals with no education and those in the lowest wealth quintile (4% each).(source DHS 2013).
Experience in PWDs Employment PWDs who are gainfully employed constitute about 25.3 % of the national prevalence rate (2.4%). Those who are fully employed account for 16.4% and those on part time basis 8.9%. The unemployed constitutes 73.4% of all PWDs of all age groups, with female rate higher than male.(1998 disability survey). Opportunities for employment are slim due to unmet required qualifications. Discrimination for employment is an apparent disadvantage situation. (Barriers to institutional, physical structure and communication access). Attitudes towards PWDs at workplaces is reportedly fair. However, PWDs are fully catered for in the new NSP programme & NDP (PAGE-2; 2017-2020).
Challenges People s livelihoods are particularly affected by a dearth of productive employment, low returns on labour, inadequate support for entrepreneurship development, and harvest failures among farming households. Extreme poverty and vulnerability. The limited capacity of the formal labour market forces most people to adopt precarious, low-paid employment in the informal sector and agricultural work. PWDs in particular face disadvantages regarding the labour market. Lack of education, and technical & vocational skills that resulted to lack of opportunities for employment . Inadequate rehabilitation centres and lack of definite source for assistive devices. This situation is compounded by, among others, a limited system of social protection or support, inappropriate agricultural practices, poor infrastructure and limited access to markets. Stigma and discrimination. Unreliable and out-dated data.
Possible Solutions Increase and decentralize SNE schools, and rehab. Centres. Promote and enhance mainstream education and TVET centres. Advocacy and capacity building activities for empowerment. Establish inclusive and sound social protection programmes. Enhance collaboration and synergy with international organizations that deals with disability. Dissemination of the CRPD. Conduct a comprehensive national disability study. Establish a national disability employment service. Advocacy for the enactment and harmonization of the PWDs Bill. Advocacy for the implementation of the CRPD.
