Our digital roundtable on a decent income for all disabled people yesterday delivered a clear message: Disabled people want access to employment in the open labour market on a level equal to others. We are asking for a stop to the financing segregated employment and a redirection of funding into support measures that work. We are asking the European Commission to help by reforming EU state aid law.
We know that many measures that are effective in ensuring inclusion in the open labour market exist.
– Kamil Goungor delivered a presentation explaining the importance of personal assistance at work
– Our trainee Sofia Goncalves shared her experiences as a participation of a job immersion programme
– Clotilde Clark-Foulquier from the Association for Supported Employment Europe (ASEE) introduced us to the concept of supported employment which unites many successfull practices such as job coaching and job carving
– Member of the European Parliament Katrin Langensiepen shared her own experiences. For her the only way to escape segregated employment was to become an MEP
– European Network on Independent Living Policy Coordinator Florian Sanden presented our newest report on employment which is packed with evidence
– European Disability Forum Deputy Director Alejandro Moledo del Río presented EDFs position on state aid
Instead of funding the measures that work, governments continue to spend the bulk of their budgets on segregated employment, leading to institutionalisation, poverty, homelessness and damages to the economy.
In the General Block Exemption Regulation, an important state aid law, the European Commission can regulate which undertakings governments can subsidise. Because of the upcoming review, we have been pushing for changes in our campaign for inclusive employment. In September the review will be completed.
European Commission Head of Unit at Yizhou Ren attended the entire roundtable and listened closely to the presentations.
We are appealing to the Commission:
– Strengthen the provisions in the General Block Exemption Regulation on accommodations at work and modifications to the built environment
– Introduce the concept of personal assistance at work
– Strengthen the access of all supported employment measures to public financing
– Remove the option of financing construction and renovation costs of segregated employment settings
Our advocacy campaign is almost at its close. Help us at the final meters by sharing this post.
