The Influence Of Social And Structural Factors On The Intention To Hire Employee With Disabilities (Ewd)

• Main Author: Lim, Sze Kai
• Format: Final Year Project Report
• Language: English
• Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) 2020
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General)
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32272/1/Lim%20Sze%20Kai%20ft.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/32272/

The employment of persons with disabilities continues to be controversial and debatable. It has been a point of contention in many countries. Similarly in Malaysia, though there are plenty of efforts and innovation in laws and government, such as Persons with Disabilities Act (2008) and other initiatives in the Malaysia Development plan, the employment rate of disabled individuals appears to be low and gradually exacerbate. Extensive literature reviews suggested that one of the challenges and barriers of EWD employment is the attitudes and experience of employers. This paper showed the readiness of organizations for disability inclusion were prompt and systematic. The study also determined the influence of social and structural factors, including organization experience, perceptions, workplace accessibility, and cost as well as management practices to the intention of organizations in hiring employees with disabilities (EWD). 89 respondents were surveyed in the study in the selected retail industry organization in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. A closed-ended questionnaire through random sampling approach was used. Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were applied for the data analysis process. The respondents perceived that the employment of EWD are significantly affected by the attitude and experiences from employers with p = 0.000. However, factors including cost (p=0.020) and workplace accessibility (p= 0.193) was least concerned by respondents. Finding from this study also revealed that management practices of the organization to include disabled individuals into the labour workforce is a highly important contributing factor. Hence, the implication of the findings in this study for the organization, HR practitioners, policy-makers and future research are discussed to educate, inform and increase awareness. It includes efforts, strategies, campaigns, and actions recommended to be taken by organizations to increase awareness and involvement of PWD in the workforce.