10 Jul 2019

Employment Act does not discriminate against people living with disability, instead, they compete with all for available positions, says Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Mr Karabo Gare.

Responding to a question from Mr Gare said that his ministry had employed 11 People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs), stating that one person was a female with Albinism.

Mr Gare further noted that CEDA, had employed five PLWDs while LEA and SPEDU had each employed one PLWD.

 In addition, Mr Gare said BDC had one female student under the Talent Identification and Development Programme who was partially blind.

He said she was undergoing practical training with an offer for employment if she met performance standards. Mr Gare also said his ministry had four PLWDs at headquarters.

Out of the eleven PLWDs employed, Mr Gare said eight were males and three females. He said their dates of employment were between the years of 1991 and 2019. He further said his ministry was in support of the UN Sustainable and Development Goal No.8, adding that they would continue working with other government agencies and different stakeholders to ensure the country’s full compliance to the United nations SDGs by 2030.

Specially Elected Member of Parliament Mr Mephato Reatile had asked the minister to state the number of PLWDs employed in his ministry under various organisations and to provide date of employment.

He had also asked the minister to indicate if the number of people employed met the country’s target of the UN SDGs No 8. ENDS