Florian Greß from Regensburg is well qualified for the labour market. After obtaining a certificate of secondary education he did a course in office management and several successful internships, at public authorities, local councils for example, and newspapers. He has good IT and English skills. However, Florian is disabled, a wheelchair-user.
Since 2022, he is trying to do an apprenticeship, an important requirement for a full job in Germany. So far, his efforts have not been met with success: “Companies are usually willing to let me do unpaid internships but when it comes to offering me an apprenticeship (a paid position in Germany) or a regular job, not so much” says Florian. “During the last years I heard a lot of reasons as to why this is not possible.”
The local branch of Caritas was about to offer him an apprenticeship but refrained from signing a contract until a workplace assistant was appointed. Social Services on the other hand insisted a workplace assistant could not be approved without a signed contract. Instead, Florian was offered to work at a sheltered workshop.
For him that is not acceptable: “I never wanted to work at a sheltered workshop for disabled people. For me it is really important to have a proper job. I want to do the same work non-disabled people do. I know my accessibility requirements and needs of accommodation, so it is easy to take part in normal working life. I need, for example personal assistance at work and voice recognition. The personal assistant, I could bring myself.
“I am living independently in my own apartment since 2017, with the help of personal assistance. Thus, I am well versed in managing my own support”.
One thing Florian knows for sure. Working at a sheltered workshop is unacceptable for him: “I rather stay unemployed than working at such a facility”.
Social services insist that is possible at any time to transition from sheltered employment to the regular labour market.
There is mounting evidence that sheltered workshops are ineffective in integrating disabled people into the first labour market. In 2021, a study by researchers from the University of Amsterdam produced statistical evidence in that regard. The same year, a report by Member of the European Parliament Katrin Langensiepen voiced sharp criticism against sheltered workshops.
General Comment No 8 of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, published in 2022, concluded that sheltered workshops are based on ableism and discrimination.
ENIL will explore options for a reform of EU state aid legislation during an online seminar on the 4th of December. Registrations are open now.
ENILs´ German member organisation, Interest Representation Independent Living, is supporting Florian in finding work. If you want to get to know him and/or offer him a job, you free to contact him: florian-gress@web.de
The information about Florians´ situation was first provided by Interest Representation Independent Living: https://isl-ev.de/aktuelles/arbeitgeberinnen-und-ausbilderinnen-aufgepasst-florian-gress-sucht-einen-inklusiven-ausbildungsplatz-im-raum-regensburg-im-bereich-buero-it-und-verwaltung/
