1 research outputs found
Employment policy for people with disabilities in Saudi Arabia
This thesis examines policy issues associated with the employment of people with
disability/disabilities in Saudi Arabia. The context of the thesis is specific to Saudi Arabia but
has relevance for other Arab and Muslim countries. In particular, the thesis provides data on
disability within a culture within which virtually no social research on the lives of people
with disabilities has been conducted, nor has there been any scholarly discussion regarding
the social model of disability. Furthermore it has been conducted by a Saudi woman
researcher who has had to work within the restrictions imposed by the culture.
A mixed research method was used for the research. Quantitative research questionnaires
complement the qualitative semi-structured interviews to study participants across the 50
targeted organisations from various sectors in Saudi Arabia. The study sample was examined
in 3 phases: in Phase One (1) questionnaires were distributed to include 50 employers from
the targeted organisations; in Phase Two (2) 24 questionnaires were distributed to
employees with disabilities from 16 different organisations that hire people with disabilities;
and Phase Three (3) consisted of 6 interviews with people with disability/disabilities and with
2 employers.
The thesis suggests that workplace environments and societal attributes contribute
significantly to inefficiency, underemployment, and unemployment among persons with
disability/disabilities. Additionally, employers in both private and public sector organisations
lack concern for the needs of employees with disability/disabilities.
Low expectations of persons with disability/disabilities are reinforced by ineffective policies.
Additionally, most organisations do not provide persons with disability/disabilities with suitable tools that can enable them to perform their work as required, as making such tools
available is given a lower priority than supplying able-bodied workers with the tools they
need. This indicates that the nature of the workplace environment contributes significantly to
the disregard, underemployment, and unemployment of persons with disability/disabilities.
The high costs associated with employing people with disability/disabilities also leads to
their alienation. At the same time, lack of experience in dealing with such individuals also
contributes significantly to the low employment and productivity levels of such persons.
Employees with disability/disabilities also tend to be engaged in jobs they are not qualified
for, meaning that they are underemployed and their abilities not recognised.
People with disability/disabilities remain significantly alienated and disadvantaged in terms
of the quality and quantity of work participation in both the public and the private sector.
Consequently, there are lower employment expectations in relation to this; this perpetuates
the perception of such workers as being inferior, high risk, and undesirable. Furthermore, if
workplace environments in Saudi Arabia were adapted to better serve the needs of people
with disability/disabilities, then the inclusion of such people in the labour force would
increase.
In conclusion, the thesis makes a contribution to knowledge about people with
disability/disabilities in Saudi Arabia as well as presenting methodological insights into
social research undertaken by Saudi women researchers in the country