The inclusion of persons with disability : what are the challenges and opportunities presented in the Maltese workplace?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the inclusion of persons with a disability within their workplace. It seeks to answer the question: How well are persons with a disability integrated within their workplace? It also aims to understand whether the necessary resources are available to address the needs of persons with a disability with respect to integration at the workplace. Persons with a disability who are currently employed, and the managements of various companies who employ or do not employ such persons, were interviewed for this study in order to better understand and attain a better representation of the current situation in Malta. Persons with a disability believe that they have the same values and capabilities as other non-disabled persons; as such, they believe that equal opportunities should be provided to them in the labour market. Such statements demonstrate that persons with a disability are still being discriminated against with regard to their abilities. In this research study, the contrast between persons with a disability and managers is studied. While persons with a disability believe that companies should be more open to employing such persons, certain managers believe that persons with a disability are not employable in the job roles that their companies offer. Nevertheless, it is recommended that more awareness should be raised among companies, with more incentives offered so as to encourage the employment of persons with a disability. In recent years, Malta has worked towards integrating persons with a disability in the labour market by creating incentives to help them to fully integrate and ‘fit in’ their workplace.