The Council of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) is calling for laws to be amended so that employers who discriminate against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) face stronger penalties.
That’s according to GCOPD Program Coordinator Ganesh Singh.
Singh was at the time making a presentation at a press seminar earlier today at Hotel Pegasus. He noted that currently the law only allows a $50,000 fine for employers who discriminate against PWDs.
“The law should be laid down so that employers are held accountable,” Singh insisted.
Today’s seminar aimed to provide media workers with updated terminology used when reporting on PWD.
GCOPD is also demanding that building codes be enforced.
Currently, the building code specifies which accessibility features must be used when constructing structures to be used by the public. However, the law does not make the code enforceable.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 15 percent of the world’s population lives with some form of disability.
See also
In Guyana, legal issues related to PWDs are under the Ministry of Health, but it is the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security that is tasked with representing, addressing and handling issues related to PWDs.
The main legislation dealing with PWD rights in Guyana is the Persons with Disabilities Act, Chapter 36:05, Laws of Guyana which was passed by Parliament in June 2010.
GCOPD hopes the law will be amended so that it falls under the Social Services Act rather than the Health Act.
