Employment of people with disabilities a concern: Namupala

WINDHOEK, 02 JUN – The majority of people living with disabilities in Namibia are between the ages of 20 to 60, which represents a reduction in the potential national workforce.
This was said in a Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) presentation by Alina Namupala during the three-day National Disability Stakeholders workshop, which ended in the capital on Thursday.
Namupala said the unemployment rate of people with disabilities in 2016 is at 34 per cent nationally. The Hardap and Zambezi regions top the list with 45 per cent, followed by Kavango and Omaheke with 40 per cent and Oshana Region at 20 per cent.
“The number is expected to increase as a result of the high accident rate in the country,” she said.
During the workshop, chairperson of the National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia (NFPDN), Daniel Trum suggested a retain-work programme for people after they become disabled.
“The programme will ensure that people who become disabled while working are able to go back to work after receiving rehabilitation training,” Trum said.
According to the National Disability Council Act 26 of 2004, all persons with disabilities shall have full access to rehabilitation, therapeutic aids and orthopaedic technical services within their communities as part of a community-based rehabilitation programme.
The workshop brought together about 100 stakeholders, partners and persons with disabilities to share knowledge on service delivery and sustainability for persons with disability between the government and civil society working in their interests.

NAMPA