Masters Degrees (Industrial Psychology)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Industrial Psychology) by Author "Bester, Magdalena Petronella Cecelia"

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    Perspektiewe aangaande die problematiek van werksverskaffing aan tersiêr-gekwalifiseerde persone met gestremdhede in Suid Afrika
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2007-12) Bester, Magdalena Petronella Cecelia; Augustyn, J. C. D.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Industrial Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is not unique. It serves as recent and focused research to confirm existing and probably well established· tendencies regarding the employment of persons with disabilities. South Africa is a country with many opportunities and is on the forefront with progressive and liberal legislation. The Constitution of the country is one of the many examples of such legislation. Initial observations were that rapid changes took place since the first free national democratic elections in 1994. The new dispensation aimed to improve the inequities of the past. Two of the disadvantaged groups namely blacks and women gained vast improvements in the workplace. The third group namely persons with disabilities was left behind, not withstanding the Employment Equity Act (no. 55 of 1998) (EEA). It was significant that eight years after the EEA and other positive legislation and codes of practice with the same objective were published very little has changed in the working environment for people with disabilities. The cries for help from this group can no longer be ignored and has become the main thrust for this study. The said legislation is not properly enforced and therefore achieve poor results. The research done consists of two studies: A. a Literature study and B. a Quantitative study. The literature study includes the following: .I Applicable South African Legislation, user's codes and codes of practices . .I The global picture - Comparison of the impact of similar legislation regarding employment in the United States of America, Great Britain, Sweden, Japan and India. The impact of reasonable provision on employment legislation and practices in South Africa as well as obstacles negatively effecting the job-hunter with a disability. The literature showed that the implications of legislation intended to improve the situation of persons with disabilities seems to be a challenge for employers in other countries as well. The quantitative study entailed an investigation of the employment situation of 11 companies in the Western Cape. The primary objective of the study was to determine the attitudes of the companies in respect of the employment of persons with disabilities with special reference to those holding tertiary qualifications. A further aim was to determine the effectiveness of the EEA in respect to the employment of persons with disabilities. The information was gathered by a random distribution of questionnaires. Except for a minority of companies the questionnaires were well received and produced the expected outcome. The results supported the hypothesis that no significant difference in employment ratios of persons with disabilities were detected, eight years after the EEA and other positive legislation were published. There was, however, positive feedback regarding notions to improve the situation of the employment of this ignored group, from most companies. The reality is that there seems to be an oversupply of able tertiary qualified people. This means that tertiary qualified people with disabilities can expect to still be at the back of the queue - exactly as it was in the past. The obligation to give the necessary attention and assistance to persons with disabilities is entrenched in the Constitution and included in legislation. The real challenge for companies is, however, to align their social responsibilities with their corporate character and value system in order to provide equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities.