WORKPLACE DIVERSITY: HOW DOES MALAYSIAN LAW PROMOTE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY?

Abstract

Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. It refers to the differences that people bring to their job on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, age and other backgrounds, including disability. Despite one’s appearance, look or physical ability, respects and considerations should be given to someone’s capability and potential in performing the job. Diversity at workplace has been evidenced to be beneficial to the organization. It may increase innovations, productivity and competitive advantages, gain creativity and give positive reputation. To people with disability (PWD), diversity at the work place is a means of inclusivity. This paper looks at the position of Malaysian laws in promoting diversity in the workplace particularly to support employment of people with disability. Aiming towards realising an inclusive society, PWD’s roles, talents and potentials must be valued. It is therefore to note that, even though Malaysia has no explicit laws addressing the matter, there are scattered provisions embedded in different statutes that seemingly promoting diversity at the work place for the disabled. At this point, the paper concludes that Malaysian legislations do play some roles in promoting diversity at the workplace as far as PWD is concerned.