The Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has a right to work, to free choice of employment and to just and favorable conditions of work, including equal pay for equal work, without discrimination. In practice, women with disabilities are often denied these basic human rights. Even among those who are fortunate enough to find employment, there are struggles to gain rights to in-service training, promotion, adequate and equal pay, and fair allocation of tasks. The process begins with education and training, which provide qualifications needed for formal employment.
Girls are much less likely to gain educational qualifications than boys.
In Zimbabwe, under the current economic restructuring program, in which public spending is cut, there is a growing imbalance of school enrolment in favor of boys. Access to schooling is often denied to girls with disabilities, effectively limiting their opportunities to gain educational qualifications and employment. Because they lack qualifications, in Zimbabwe women with disabilities often end up in the informal sector, working as small traders or in co-operatives. Although a few may be successful, in most cases the work and financial rewards are far below their actual potential and do not meet their economic needs. The result is that women with disabilities are poorer than both able-bodied women and men with disabilities.