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Comparative study of
vocational rehabilitation among governmental
and private sectors on employment of disabled
persons
Mansour
Nazari Chafjiri
Correspondence:
Mansour Nazari Chafjiri
Welfare Organization of Rasht, Rasht, Iran
Email::mansour1347n@yahoo.com
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Abstract
Objectives: The aim of the present
study was to investigate the effect of
vocational rehabilitation of the governmental
sector (Welfare Organization of Rasht,
Iran) in the year 2000 relative to that
of the private sector in 2014 for employment
of persons with disabilities.
Methods: In this study, a total
of 154 disabled persons who were trained
and skilled under the vocational training
program of the private sector in 2014
were compared with 140 disabled persons
who were trained and skilled under the
vocational training program of the governmental
sector in 2000. In this study, we used
an interview method with managers of training
centers and corrected the obtained data
based on available data from the Welfare
Organization of Rasht Rasht, Iran as well
as Nazari (2000).
Results: Results indicated that
24 trained/skilled individuals among 140
disabled persons who were trained/skilled
under the vocational training program
of the governmental sector were employed
(17.14%). Conversely, 7 trained/skilled
individuals among 154 disabled persons
who were trained/skilled under the vocational
training program of the governmental sector
were employed (4.54%).
Conclusion: Based on those results,
it is concluded that the performance and
efficiency of the private sector in 2014
was lower than that of the governmental
sector in 2000. Hence, it is necessary
to evaluate, grade and improve the performance
of the private sector.
Key words: rehabilitation, employment,
disabled person, skill, training
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Importance of employment in disabled persons is
more significant than for normal persons in society,
both socially and economically, because disabled
persons feel more threatened than normal persons
when unemployed. Conversely, job/employment restrictions
based on their disabilities decreases job selection
opportunities for these disabled persons and they
therefore become costly and consumers (Zarneshan,
2008).
Having a job is one of many important aspects
of culture and identity for each person. Most
people organize their life based on job/employment.
Unemployed persons are set aside for important
activities and social roles (Obermann, 1980).Employment
as one factor affecting human life is supported
by international and national rules. It is recognized
as a right and is one of the human rights. Disabled
persons, due to their physical situation, need
appropriate public support and social cooperation
to obtain employment (Zarneshan, 2008).
Technical and Vocational Training Organization
(TVTO) could train many Iranian youth. Education
is one way to improve human resources and capital.
Education should act as a lead to employment.
In fact, education should include the principal
skills required for job capacities and achievement.
Technical and vocational training of disabled
persons should be organized based on their individual
properties. Training should emphasize practical
skills and programs and should be adjusted based
on degree of disability and the specificity of
the situation (Amiri, 2010).
Based on the International Labour Organization
(ILO) definition, vocational rehabilitation
is an on-going process including coordinated
services. Vocational rehabilitation of disabled
persons includes vocational guidance, vocational
education, job seeking, and employment so as
to provide appropriate jobs for disabled persons.
Vocational rehabilitation starts with the identification
of a disabled person until he/she is leading
a normal social life and career (Asad-Alavi
and Roshd-Caboli, 1994).
Employment of each person leads to his/her economical
independence. Employment leads to improvement
of social dignity and identity and hence employed
persons have increased self confidence. Unfortunately,
many disabled persons cannot access appropriate
jobs despite the fact that they are educated
as well as skilled (Habooti, 2014).
Until recently, many people believed that disabled
persons could work and be employed. For example,
before the vocational rehabilitation program
of 1973 in the USA, disabled persons could not
participate in employment tests (Blanck, 2001).
Negative attitude of people, especially private
employers, toward disabled persons leads to
less attention given to their capabilities.
People, even highly educated people, do not
recognize the potential and acquired capacities
of disabled persons. These people think disabled
people cannot work and need continuous help
(Fleihi and Vazooji, 2003). The United Nations
(2009) reported that 1.3-3.4% world people are
disabled. Italy has the most disabled people
among European countries. India and China have
the most disabled people among Asian countries.
Based on Italian rules, disabled people have
services similar to those as remnants of war
(Italy had the most disabled people due to the
2nd world war), and 9% of job opportunities
in industries and social services belonged to
disabled individuals. Meanwhile, if a job opportunity
for a disabled person was occupied by a normal
person, the same wage was paid to the disabled
person (Koucharian, 2014). In as much as all
valid data are not available about the recruitment
of disabled persons, available data shows there
is lower recruitment of disabled individuals
compared to normal persons (International Disability
Rights Monitor, 2004).
There are at a minimum 650 million disabled
individuals worldwide. Approximately 15-20%
of people have disability. In developing countries,
80-90% of disabled people do not have a job
(Zarocostas, 2005). In developed countries,
50-70% of disabled individuals do not have a
job, which at a minimum is twice the rate of
normal people. There are 370 million disabled
individuals in Asia; of those 238 million seek
employment. In Asian countries, 80% of disabled
people do not have a job, which is at a minimum
twice the rate of normal people (Perry, 2002).
In European countries, 43-54% disabled people
do not have employment, which is 2-3 times the
rate for normal people (International Disability
Rights Monitor, 2004). In Latin American countries,
80-90% disabled people do not have a job, and
also disabled careers are associated with low
income (World Bank, 2004). A total of 0.03%
of gross non-net income in the USA is used to
support disability institutes. In addition,
0.02% of the total state budget is used for
social services to create employment for disabled
individuals. Examples from different countries:
handicraft produced by disabled persons in India,
monitoring of traffic performed by disabled
persons in China, traffic light control by disabled
persons in France. In addition, 3 disabled individuals
work in the navigation and control tower of
the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. There
were approximately 1 million disabled individuals
in 2006 in Iran, and that number increases annually
by about 25,000-30,000 persons due to congenital
diseases, road accidents, occupational accidents,
biological and medical failure, and natural
disasters. Hence, there were about 1,120,000
disabled individuals in 2012 in Iran. Nevertheless,
there are no valid statistics concerning the
number of employed disabled persons in Iran
(Koucharian, 2014).
In spite of the ratification of the Disability
Rights Protection Act in 2004, there are no
real and valid data about their occupation.
Hosseinpour (2008) reported that only 600 disabled
individuals worked in the public sector. Based
on the Disability Rights Protection Act, 60%
of operators should select workers among disabled
persons, nonetheless they are not employed.
Different countries can create employment for
disabled persons in the private sector by means
of various actions and politics. For example,
governments can use incentive quota, occupation
of disabled persons for special jobs, loan or
grants for occupation of disabled persons, exclusive
contracts, giving priority of production, tax
rebates, technical support for companies which
employ disabled persons, etc. Countries should
support initiatives for providing facilities
required by disabled persons.
There are some resources for occupation of
disabled persons in Iran. For example, self-employment
loans based on the annual budget law, loan and
facility available in the Mehr-Imam-Reza Fund,
facilities available for quick small business
and entrepreneurship, grants available based
on law article 17, allocation of as much as
3% of total employment for disabled persons,
occupation of disabled persons by the private
sector, construction of cooperatives for employment
of disabled persons, payment of premium employer’s
share by the government, issuing work permits
for charities to employ disabled persons, providing
loans available through national banks for the
employment of disabled persons, etc. (Amiri,
2010).
Previous studies reported that disabled persons
usually work in low level jobs and income. There
is discrimination for occupation between disabled
and normal individuals. Although the government
should allocate as much as 3% of total employment
for disabled persons, the reality shows that
this rule is not well implemented. Therefore,
disabled persons’ lives are difficult (Habooti,
2014).
In the present study, we will compare vocational
rehabilitation among governmental (2000) and
private sectors (2014) on the employment of
disabled persons. Other studies focused only
on one type of disability or one time period.
In the study herein, however, we studied and
compared two methods (governmental and private
sectors) for vocational rehabilitation. As no
report exists for investigating the performance
and efficiency of the private sector, this research
was conducted to monitor their performance concerning
the employment of disabled persons.
This research was conducted based on a descriptive-analytical
approach. Samples were selected among all vocational
rehabilitation centers at Rasht city, Iran.
Samples were all disabled persons who trained
and were skilled in these centers at Rasht city,
Iran.
Firstly, all available statistics (address
and telephone number) of vocational training
centers (private and governmental sectors) of
Rasht city, Iran were collected in 2014 from
the Welfare Organization of Rasht, Iran. Then,
all available statistics (address and telephone
number) of vocational training centers (private
and governmental sectors) and also from all
occupied disabled persons in the year 2000 were
collected from Welfare Organization of Rasht,
Iran.
We collected data via managers of all vocational
training centers by verbal or telephone interviews.
The number of skilled and occupied disabled
persons collected were based on the type of
disability and sex. Then, collected data were
validated, based on data available in the Welfare
Organization of Rasht, Iran, and incorrect data
removed.
Results
are
summarized
in
Tables
1
and
2.
Based
on
obtained
results,
there
were
four
vocational
training
centers
in
Rasht
city,
Iran
in
2000:
1-Rofeideh
supportive
workhouse
for
mentally
retarded
and
deaf
persons.
This
center
included
50
disabled
persons
(27
males
and
23
females).
2-
Fayazbakhsh
center
for
blind
and
mobility
impairment
persons.
This
center
included
8
disabled
persons
(5
males
and
3
females).
3-
Koosesh
center
for
mentally
retarded
persons.
This
center
included
50
male
disabled
persons.
4-
Tavana
center
for
mentally
retarded
persons.
This
center
included
32
female
disabled
persons.
Therefore,
there
were
140
trained/skilled
disabled
persons
in
the
four
above
centers.
A
total
of
24
disabled
persons
were
able
to
find
a
job
among
the
140
above
disabled
persons
(17.14%)
in
2000.
There
were
some
vocational
training
centers
in
Rasht
city,
Iran
in
2014:
1-
A
private
supportive
workhouse
for
mentally
retarded
males
above
14
years
of
age.
2-
A
private
supportive
workhouse
for
mentally
retarded
females
above
14
years
of
age.
3-
and
4-
Two
private
supportive
workhouses
for
mixed
mentally
retarded
persons
under
14
years.
5-
A
private
supportive
workhouse
for
mixed
mobility
impairment
persons
above
14
years
of
age.
6-
A
private
supportive
workhouse
(blind
society)
for
blind
persons.
This
center
included
10
disabled
persons.
7-
A
private
supportive
workhouse
(Dasthaye-Shokoofa)
for
blind
persons.
This
center
included
52
disabled
persons.
There
were
154
trained/skilled
disabled
persons
in
the
five
above
centers
in
2014.
A
total
of
7
disabled
persons
could
find
employment
among
the
154
above
disabled
persons
(4.54%)
in
2014.
Comparison
of
results
obtained
from
governmental
(2000)
and
private
(2014)
sectors
showed
that
the
private
sector
was
not
successful
in
creating
employment
for
disabled
persons,
and
there
was
a
decline
in
job
creation
relative
to
the
governmental
sector.
Hence,
there
are
some
questions:
1-
Was
the
privatization
of
government
agencies
executed
properly?
2-
Does
the
private
sector
with
respect
to
the
objectives
of
the
Welfare
Organization
of
Rasht
perform
their
tasks
properly?
3-
If
the
budget
paid
as
subsidies
to
the
private
centers
for
the
disabled
was
transferred
to
governmental
sector
to
pay
for
their
training
and
vocational
rehabilitation,
would
the
outcome
not
be
better?
4-
It
is
recommended
that
the
Welfare
Organization
be
careful
and
have
an
appropriate
target
concerning
the
assignment
of
governmental
centers
to
the
private
sector.
5-
Private
centers
should
be
monitored
periodically.
6-
The
level
of
education
of
disabled
persons
should
be
evaluated
periodically
in
the
private
sector.
7-
The
employment
rate
of
disabled
persons
should
be
selected
as
one
of
the
important
items
to
be
considered
in
grading
these
centers.
8-
Type
of
education
should
be
organized
based
on
community
and
labor
market
needs.
9-
Follow-up
and
evaluation
of
employers’
satisfaction
should
be
scheduled
periodically.
Click
here
for
Table
1:
Summary
of
data
obtained
for
2000
Click
here
for
Table
2:
Summary
of
data
obtained
for
2014
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