Employers accused of discrimination against people with epilepsy
EZULWINI – 10 people with epilepsy were retrenched from work after their employers discovered that they had the neurological condition.
This was disclosed by the Acting National Director of the Eswatini Epilepsy Organisation, Abraham Ntshalintshali, yesterday during the launch of the organisation’s 2023 calendar. The event was held at the Happy Valley Hotel in Ezulwini.
Ntshalintshali said some employers had contributed to the plight of people with epilepsy in the country. He noted that some workplaces discriminated against people with epilepsy and were impatient with their condition, but retrenched them soon after discovering they were living with it.
This, he said, was a discriminatory practice and unfair on employees.
Discriminatory
Due to the discriminatory practice, Ntshalintshali said some people were afraid to disclose that they had the neurological condition.
He stated that since the year started they had dealt with 10 cases where people with epilepsy were retrenched for living with the condition.
He stated that the organisation successfully fought three of the cases, after which the employees were reinstated.
He said the practice was more common in private security companies. Ntshalintshali further stated that some industries, mostly in construction, where they worked on elevated platforms, also discriminated against people with epilepsy.
He said they were aware that there were some working environments that were not suitable for people with epilepsy. However, Ntshalintshali said that did not give employers a leeway to retrench a worker living with the condition.
He explained that some people were diagnosed with the condition later in their lives.
Redeploy
The director suggested that in such conditions the employer should redeploy the worker.
Eswatini has a population of 65 000 people with epilepsy, which is equivalent to five per cent of the entire population. Since 2003 the director said over 20 000 people in the country were taking anti-epileptic drug treatment.
“Epilepsy is the cause of discrimination, marginalisation and victims of all forms of abuse,” he said.
The acting director mentioned that most people epilepsy had the lowest literacy levels and were least prioritised in social protection programmes, despite the fact that they were equally capable and needed to be given a chance.
Ntshalintshali said he was pleased that companies and organisations that had partnered with them provided opportunities for people with epilepsy.
Thandiwe Hlatshwayo who was speaking on behalf of Stefanutti Stocks said they took epilepsy seriously as a company, as they had employees living with the condition.
She stated that due to the discrimination, employees were scared to disclose that they had epilepsy.
She urged employers not to discriminate them as they were part of society.
Support
“We always try to support our employees who have epilepsy,” she said.
The construction company is one of the longest serving partners of Eswatini Epilepsy Organisation.
Meanwhile, the organisation declared August 8 as Mbusomuni Mahlalela’s day.
The director stated that due to the work that was invested by the late founder, and first national director of the organisation, Mahlalela would be celebrated on the eighth day of August annually. The reason the day was selected was because it was the founder’s birthday. On this day, members of the organisation will visit communities and conduct door-to-door awareness, assisting some of their members in unfavourable conditions.
“This was at the heart of our late founder,” he said.