Policies developed for people with disabilities are based on Sharia Law which gives rights for dignified lives and benefits from welfare. Saudi Arabia is in the process of developing as a society social institution that can cater to people with disabilities (Hasnain et al., 2008). According to the royal decrees that have been agreed upon by the office of the chairman of the council of ministers, people with disabilities in Saudi Arabia deserve to be treated fairly in the labour market ("Disabled care system," 2000).
This decree carries policies that aim to reduce the negative attitude and discrimination shown to people with disabilities in the labour market especially when it comes to rehabilitation and hiring processes (Kabbara, 2003). Despite this employers are allowed to inform job applicants that they cannot employ them based on their conditions. Basically, Saudi Arabia has laws that cover individuals with disabilities in the workplace. For instance, an organization can be sued within a civil court for discriminating people with disabilities under national anti-discriminatory laws.
However, such lawsuits in Saudi Arabia are practically not there. Therefore, people with disabilities in Saudi Arabia require special treatment and policies to integrate them into society and give them opportunities to take part in the labor market (Arab News, 2008). According to Mansour (2010), the employability of disabled people within Saudi Arabia is a social problem and therefore the decision makers should increase awareness level of the problem. Laws regarding the employment of people with disabilities should be clear to the employers and incentives should be offered to organizations hiring people with disabilities.
The government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs develops and implement career development programs for the disable. This ministry runs career rehabilitation department that gathers for various aspects for the disable. It follows up and implements career rehabilitation programs, draws rehabilitation policies and carriers out research on the development of programs. It also carries out the actual rehabilitation for people with disabilities and prepares them for employment. Provision of rehabilitation programs is a great policy achievement by the Saudi Arabia government.
These programs and policies are very beneficial to the employees since they help them to prepare for employment opportunities. Saudi American Bank (2000) reports that this group receive training and rehabilitation needed to suit them in the market. Many disabled people have benefitted from these and have been able to compete favorably in the employment sector with the rest of the job seekers.
...Download file to see next pages Read More