1. EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILTIES: BOTSWANA COUNTRY REPORT
Tlamelo O. Mmatli
Senior Lecturer
Department of Social Work 
University of Botswana

2. GENERAL INFORMATION – BOTSWANA
Approximately 2 million inhabitants Census results
36% reside - in rural areas, 42% in urban villages, and 22% in cities and towns
Poverty estimated at 40.3% in rural and 25% in urban areas in 2010/2011 (UNICEF, 2012)
Inequality among the highest in the world (2009/2010 Botswana Core Welfare Indicators Survey)
Dependency on minerals, especially diamonds

3. Cont Unemployment - at 18% in 2009/2010 (UNICEF, 2012)
Unemployment highest amongst those with only secondary education or less
Highest level of unemployment among youth aged 15 – 19 years, at 41% in 2009/10: not in school and not working
Unemployment amongst youth aged 20 – 24 at 34% within the same period (2009/10)
Unemployment amongst women at 21% (UNICEF, 2012)

4. A FOCUS ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
1991 census– disability rate at 2.2% (CSO, 1991)
2001 census – disability rate at 2.99% (CSO, 2001)
2011 census – disability rate at 3.5% of population
Many live in the rural areas and urban villages (CSO, 2011).
Historically marginalization and exclusion from employment

5. Focus on … Cont
A large proportion of the working-age population who are unemployed
Of those who are economically active, a significant proportion (39.4%) are paid in kind, whilst 41.0% are engaged in unpaid work in the family (CSO, 2001).
Majority engaged in family agricultural activities
People with disabilities classified among the poorest of the poor in the world
Poverty and inequality affect people with disabilities the most
Poverty associated with unemployment

6. GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE
The Rehabilitation Services Division established in 1976 to coordinate service provision
CBR introduced in 1979 – a strategy
Botswana Council for the Disabled
Policy on the Care of People with disabilities

7. CBR Evaluation :
People with disabilities left behind in the social and economic development of the country
Policy – no tangible benefits for people with disabilities
Received no meaningful education or training
Unemployment was highest among them

8. Recent Developments Growing awareness generally in recent years
particularly regarding the unemployment status of people with disabilities

9. OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES - Activities
Office of People with Disabilities established within the Office of the President in 2010
Engaged in awareness raising drive to sensitise the nation on the plight of people with disabilities, including their employment/unemployment situation
Workshops for different stakeholders throughout the country
Broad discussions on the situation of people with disabilities generally, including employment/unemployment issues
Mainstreaming - focal persons appointed in all ministries
Consultancy studies commissioned jointly by Government and International agencies

10. Review of the Legal Instruments, Policies, Strategies and Programmes for the Integration of Issues for People with Disabilities
The majority of policies, programmes, strategies and plans that were reviewed did not specifically mention people with disabilities as beneficiaries
For example, none of the poverty alleviation policies, programmes and strategies; agricultural programmes and citizen economic empowerment policies and programmes adequately incorporated issues for people with disabilities.

11. Cont
Citizen Economic Empowerment policies and programmes do not sufficiently include people with disabilities
seek to improve livelihoods of the population, and enhance capacity for self-employment and self-reliance

12. Cont
When these policies and programmes were designed access for people with disabilities were not considered
Not even reference to them or their issues. Thus they don’t even have formal inclusion/equality.
The majority of the country laws did not offer sufficient protection to the rights of people with disabilities

13. Disability Audit
Disability Audit of Legislation and Policies Relating to the Education, Vocational Training and Employment of Persons with Disabilities in Botswana

14. Three pieces of legislation
Employment Act (Cap. 47:01 of 2008)
Public Service Act (Act No. 30 of 2008)
Workers Compensation Act (cap. 48:01 of 2001)

15. Results
Not compliant with either the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD, 2006) or the ILO Convention No. 159 on the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) (1983).
Formal equality without substantive equality
No provision for reasonable accommodation or affirmative action

16. Results Cont
No provision for job retention, return to work, medical or vocational rehabilitation
No specific provision for the training/retraining, and of people with disabilities
Self-employment for people with disabilities does not form part of their focus

17. In a Nutshell
People with disabilities remain marginalized and excluded from employment
Citizen economic empowerment schemes that promote self-employment do not articulate how people with disabilities are be accommodated
The legal framework in Botswana does not sufficiently protect the employment rights of people with disabilities
The lack of a disability specific legislation or employment equity legislation does not help the situation
The built environment is also prevent people with disabilities from accessing employment (Mmatli, 2007)

18. Why is this so?
Important things not yet done

19. Ratification of CRPD – 27 Provides for:
Opportunity to gain a living by work - as a right in an inclusive labour market
- A disability specific law a requirement to
Prohibit discrimination
protect rights
Operationalize rights
Secure employment in the public sector and private sector
Creation of opportunities for self-employment – and assist in starting own business

20. Skilling and employment of people with disabilities
ILO CONVENTION NO. 159 ON THE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT (DISABLED PERSONS) – domestication of
Skilling and employment of people with disabilities

21. A positive note
Disability increasingly becoming part of the priority list for government ministries and departments
For example, in December 2012 a Savingram on employment of graduates with disabilities
Departments already responding
Employment situation of graduates is likely to improve
What of the nun-graduates?