Equality for people with disabilities in the workplace: an overview of the emergence of disability as a human rights issue

Abstract

English: In essence, the article explores the development of disability as a human rights issue with a particular focus on equality in the workplace. It draws from developments that have been taking place at the international plane as well as in other jurisdictions. Throughout, the article seeks to ultimately relate disability to the South African workplace. It is submitted that human rights jurisprudence has been slow in harnessing equality as a normative tool for overcoming prejudice and indifference in the workplace environment. However, in the last two decades or so, there has been a paradigm shift, with disability emerging as a human rights issue at international and domestic levels. The growing recognition of the concept of reasonable accommodation as a mechanism for realising equality for people with disabilities in the workplace, is one of the most promising signs of a new approach to disability.

Afrikaans: In hoofsaak ondersoek die artikel die ontwikkeling van gestremdheid as 'n menseregteaangeleentheid met 'n besondere beklemtoning van gelykheid in die werkplek. Daar word geput uit ontwikkelings wat plaasgevind het op internasionale terrein sowel as in ander jurisdiksies. Deurgaans word daar gepoog om gestremdheid in verband te bring met die Suid-Afrikaanse werkplek. Dit word aan die hand gedoen dat menseregtejurisprudensie traag was om gelykheid as 'n normatiewe instrument in te span om vooroordeel en ongeërgdheid in die werksomgewing te oorkom. Gedurende die afgelope ongeveer twee dekades het daar egter 'n paradigmaverskuiwing plaasgevind, met gestremdheid wat as 'n menseregtetema op internasionale en plaaslike vlak ontwikkel het. Die groeiende erkenning van die begrip redelike akkommodasie as 'n meganisme vir die verwerkliking van gelykheid vir mense met gestremdhede in die werkplek, is een van die mees belowende tekens van 'n nuwe benadering tot gestremdheid.