We organised a webinar on the 7 September to explain the EU Disability Employment Package (external link). During the event, we explained what each of the Package’s actions does, and how they address the issues persons with disabilities encounter when looking for and retaining work.
The European Commission began its work on the EU Disability Employment Package last year. Some of the proposed actions have already been completed, and results can be notice. However, at EDF we realised that many disability advocates are not familiar with the Package and what it aims to do.
The event counted with three representatives from the European Commission, each involved in overseeing the outcomes of the Disability Employment Package:
- Monika Chaba – European Commission – Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (external link)
- Yasmin Salem – European Commission – Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
- Cynthia Harrison Villaba – European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop – external link)
The speakers presented the Package’s six actions:
1) Strengthening the capacities of employment and integration services
This action has been completed and it consists of:
- a practitioner toolkit on strengthening PES to improve the labour market outcomes of persons with disabilities (external link) created by the European Network of Public Employment Services (external link) that offers a practical guide for how Public Employment Services can assist persons with disabilities to find work.
- a briefing note “A lifelong guidance for persons with disabilities” (external link) developed by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop). The note provides examples of supporting and guiding persons with disabilities at work, including accessible career guidance, training, and job retention support.
2) Promoting Hiring Perspectives through affirmative action and combating stereotypes
This ongoing work is led by the European Disability Expertise (EDE) (external link), a network of researchers specialised in disability. The research aims to:
- Cover all the countries of the European Union.
- Show what policies exist in different European countries to support employment of persons with disabilities.
- Show examples of different ways European countries promote employment, including quota systems, subsidies for employers, vocational assessments, and other policies.
Results should be available in 2023.
3) Ensuring reasonable accommodation at work
The work in this area, conducted by the European Disability Expertise (EDE) network, aims to produce guidance on reasonable accommodation.
This involves making adaptations to a workplace or working role, enabling persons with disabilities to perform their job effectively. The guidance will specifically focus on areas such as:
- assistive technology,
- personal assistance, telework, and
- telework and working arrangements
Results should be available in 2023.
4) Retaining Persons with disabilities in employment: preventing disabilities associated with chronic diseases
- The European Union information agency for occupational safety and health (OSHA) (external link) is initiating work on this. They will create a dedicated section on their website, providing information on retaining persons with disabilities in employment.
- The European Commission will then make a manual for employers on how to manage chronic diseases and how to keep persons with disabilities in work.
Results should be available in 2023.
5) Retaining Persons with disabilities in employment: return to work
The European Commission will create comprehensive guidelines aimed at supporting persons with disabilities in their return to work.
These guidelines will provide:
- Practical instructions and real-life examples on offering suitable positions,
- offering psychological support, and
- providing necessary training.
These resources will be valuable tools for both employers and public authorities.
Results should be available in 2023.
6) Exploring quality jobs in sheltered employment and pathways to the open labour market
A consortium called Empirica (external link), based in Germany, will focus on examining the situation of persons with disabilities working in sheltered work settings across various EU countries. Their work will involve:
- assessing how the law is different in EU countries,
- understanding the impact of sheltered work on both persons with disabilities and society, and
- identifying successful models and good examples of how people are supported towards the open labour market.
Results should be available in 2023.
More information
For more information on EDF’s ongoing work on employment, you can visit the designated page on our website. You can also read our 2023 Human Rights Report on the Right to Work.
Contact
Haydn Hammersley, EDF Social Policy Coordinator