BOSETU HOST HISTORIC POLICY FO FOR WORK-PLACE DISABILITY

Education sector trade Union, BOSETU on Friday held a historic policy forum for work place disability whose aim is to develop a policy instrument with which to lobby for change in the teaching environment and address a mirage of work place challenges faced by employees in the education sector.

Speaking at the event BOSETU President Winston Radikolo said as trade union BOSETU should influence the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities and optional protocol. “Our lobbying and advocacy should not end at ratification but should also influence the domestication of the protocol as this is the most important step” President Winston Radikolo said.

BOSETU Secretary for Gender Chatapiwa Mabutho said, “People with disabilities are among the membership of BOSETU. They should as a result play an active role as union activists and hold any position of leadership across the union structures. A disability should not be misunderstood to mean that one is unable to fully participate in union activities or cannot hold a position of leadership,” Mabutho further said.

BOSETU Secretary General Cde Tobokani Rari told the workshop there is need for BOSETU as a lobby organization and trade union with bargaining rights with the employer, to have a comprehensive work place disability policy of its own which will be used to lobby for work place disability policy for teachers and other workers employed in the education sector.

Among the gaps and challenges identified by the workshops is that the Ministry of Education currently does not have a work place disability policy guiding them on how to deal with the various forms of disabilities in the work place.

Challenges sighted include posting and transferring teachers to places that are not conducive in relation to their disability, and that often medical conditions of such workers with disabilities are not considered so that they are posted or transferred near where they can access medical facilities or near their family.

The workshop also noted that buildings are not constructed with people with disability in mind and are often not accessible, have no ramps, no pavements,and resources not accessible.

Among others the workshop proposed that teachers with disability should have assistant teacher or teacher aid. not be burdened with rest of the teachers.

The workshop also policy for work place nize that sharing compro disabled, as well as buildi disability occupants in

On promotions, the attended mainly by BOS disability noted that are sidelined and that does not favour teacher their challenges and unfav ditions they are working

The workshop also tion sector the disability not the priority of the them missing out on inser allowances, among others

Teachers with impaire lighted the importance of this category of needs on their own, unable in meeti8ngs, difficulty workers, students, and