By Scoop Reporter
THE Zambia Federation of Disability Organisations (ZAFOD), has appealed to employers to take a keen interest on the health of employees with disabilities in the wake of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).
In a statement to The Scoop, ZAFOD says it is important that workers with disabilities are accorded the necessary facilities by their employers to safeguard their health.
It said it would be unreasonable to lay off such employees on account of the economic effects of the COVID-19 outbreak as that would compound their situations even further.
“ZAFOD would like to make a passionate appeal to employers who have persons with disabilities, among their employees, to safeguard and provide all the necessary facilities to protect such ones from contracting COVID-19, as most persons with disabilities have allied conditions.
“We would also like to caution employers against using COVID-19 to layoff persons with disabilities from employment. Laying off such persons from work could have a serious impact on their living conditions. ZAFOD would love to see all employers exercise reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities, in order to make them function effectively,” reads the statement in part.
