On Friday 12 July, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion published a “Catalogue of positive actions to encourage the hiring of persons with disabilities and combating stereotypes”. This document, drawn up in collaboration with the European Disability Expertise Project and the Employment sub-group of the Disability Platform, is part of the Disability Rights Strategy 2021-2030.
The catalogue lists flagship initiatives undertaken by employers and public authorities across the European Union to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the labour market. It is aimed at employers, employers’ associations, trade unions and public authorities, and proposes positive actions ranging from personalised support to vocational training and reasonable workplace accommodation, aimed at guaranteeing equal opportunities.
Business support service. The catalogue presents various initiatives, such as the job-search assistance service for deaf people in Wallonia (Belgium). The SAREW service offers comprehensive support, from drafting CVs to preparing for interviews, as well as raising companies’ awareness of the use of sign language. In Croatia, active labour market measures such as wage subsidies are encouraging employers to take on disabled people, with significant results.
Subsidies. EU Member States also offer various financial support schemes to encourage hiring disabled people. In Greece, for example, a wage subsidy programme targets long-term unemployed people with disabilities.
Quota systems. Quota systems are also in place in several Member States. Since 2001, Portugal has imposed a quota of jobs for disabled people in public services and, from 2019, in the private sector. In Spain, a quota of 2% of public sector jobs is reserved for people with intellectual disabilities. These quotas are designed to increase the employment rate of disabled people.
Information campaigns. Raising awareness among employers plays a crucial role. In the Netherlands, the De Normaalste Zaak (‘the most natural thing’) organisation brings together 2,000 companies promoting socially responsible entrepreneurship. It raises awareness of inclusion among employers and facilitates sharing experiences between peers.
In Denmark, an employability indicator project is assessing the factors that encourage socially vulnerable beneficiaries to accept a job.
To read the document, go to https://aeur.eu/f/d1a (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)