Max
12-16-2002, 12:16 PM
Company focuses on recruitment of disabled
December 11 2002 at 05:31PM
In meeting the requirements of the Employment Equity Act, most employers have focused on race and gender in eliminating unfair discrimination, with little attention paid to people with disabilities.
Now black empowerment company Pha Phama Africa Staff Services is making it a priority to actively promote recruitment of people with disabilities to mainstream positions.
Jointly established by Pha Phama Africa Employee Empowerment Trust and Workforce Group Holdings, the company is being developed as a general staff service provider.
Workforce will provide the initial development funding, and management guidance, infrastructure support and administrative assistance is being provided through various companies within the group.
"The ultimate goal is for Pha Phama to be completely managed and staffed by people from disadvantaged communities," says development manager Zandile Ludwaba.
"We provide permanent, temporary and outsourced staff for a wide range of client companies and, although we are actively involved in the recruitment of people with disabilities, we also offer the usual range of staffing solutions for able-bodied applicants."
Ludwaba, who has been wheelchair bound for several years since damaging her spine in a car accident, says a disabled person who is well-qualified should be in a position to find a good job since employers need to fulfil their obligations in terms of the Employment Equity Act.
However, many employers are still hesitant to take on employees with disabilities because they believe they may create problems in the workplace.
"Employers who don't have experience with disabled employees often assume they will incur additional expenses in making their workplace disability-friendly, but this is not necessarily the case as many workplaces require little or no adaptation."
Pha Phama provides the support employers and employees with disabilities need to form a productive working relationship, and Ludwaba says most existing employees soon settle down after finding that people with disabilities are really not that different from their other colleagues.
"Our applicants with disabilities aren't asking for handouts. They are prepared to be as productive as their able-bodied colleagues, and they expect to earn market-related salaries," says Ludwaba. - Staff reporter
For more information contact Zandile Ludwaba at 021 910 4101, fax 021 910 4107 or email: zandile@phaphama.co.za
Simply talk on paper
Company focuses on recruitment of disabled
December 11 2002 at 05:31PM
In meeting the requirements of the Employment Equity Act, most employers have focused on race and gender in eliminating unfair discrimination, with little attention paid to people with disabilities.
Now black empowerment company Pha Phama Africa Staff Services is making it a priority to actively promote recruitment of people with disabilities to mainstream positions.
Jointly established by Pha Phama Africa Employee Empowerment Trust and Workforce Group Holdings, the company is being developed as a general staff service provider.
Workforce will provide the initial development funding, and management guidance, infrastructure support and administrative assistance is being provided through various companies within the group.
"The ultimate goal is for Pha Phama to be completely managed and staffed by people from disadvantaged communities," says development manager Zandile Ludwaba.
"We provide permanent, temporary and outsourced staff for a wide range of client companies and, although we are actively involved in the recruitment of people with disabilities, we also offer the usual range of staffing solutions for able-bodied applicants."
Ludwaba, who has been wheelchair bound for several years since damaging her spine in a car accident, says a disabled person who is well-qualified should be in a position to find a good job since employers need to fulfil their obligations in terms of the Employment Equity Act.
However, many employers are still hesitant to take on employees with disabilities because they believe they may create problems in the workplace.
"Employers who don't have experience with disabled employees often assume they will incur additional expenses in making their workplace disability-friendly, but this is not necessarily the case as many workplaces require little or no adaptation."
Pha Phama provides the support employers and employees with disabilities need to form a productive working relationship, and Ludwaba says most existing employees soon settle down after finding that people with disabilities are really not that different from their other colleagues.
"Our applicants with disabilities aren't asking for handouts. They are prepared to be as productive as their able-bodied colleagues, and they expect to earn market-related salaries," says Ludwaba. - Staff reporter
For more information contact Zandile Ludwaba at 021 910 4101, fax 021 910 4107 or email: zandile@phaphama.co.za
Simply talk on paper
Company focuses on recruitment of disabled