On Wednesday 1 May, to mark International Workers’ Day and ahead of the European elections, the European Disability Forum called for the introduction of a ‘European Disability Employment and Skills Guarantee’ for the next term of office.
The aim of this scheme is to improve the professional inclusion of people with disabilities in the European labour market, where they are under-represented.
And with good reason, the 2023 report by the Right to Work Forum reveals some alarming figures: only 51.3% of people with disabilities are employed, compared with 75.6% of people without disabilities.
The proposed new guarantee aims to raise these levels through increased support from the European Social Fund, particularly for recipients of disability benefits, who could keep their benefits while working or training.
With no age restrictions, the programme would also encourage access to jobs on the open market, excluding sheltered workshops, which do not confer legal status as employees. Practical adjustments in the workplace, as well as technical and financial assistance, would complete the package.
The 2023 report on the right to work: https://aeur.eu/f/c1h
Easy-to-read version: https://aeur.eu/f/c1i (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)