From 26 to 28 October 2017 took place in Lille, France, a working group about “An inclusive labour market policy: The influence of changing working conditions, on-the-job opportunities and the life of persons with a disability”, organized by EPSIN (European Platform for Social Integration), with the support of EZA and of the European Union.
The seminar was a further step in the past seminars with the same topic. It is a growth towards a necessary European network of organizations and institutions.
The seminar departed from a socio-political analysis of European employment and the situation of people with a limitation. (People with a limitation: physical or psychological disability, social disabled, migrants and refugees, roma’s, young people without qualifications or training, … )
In particular, attention was paid to new developments in the labor market, namely the sharing economy and the circular economy.
From concrete examples from Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium, the positive results and the difficulties to realize them were achieved.
The main theme of the introductions was the inequality in opportunities to fully participate in the labor market. It often lacked a good political strategy for the intended target group.
Curious was the observation that through creative ways full job creation could be done.
These decisions were therefore discussed and approved:
- The politicians and policy decision makers must be convinced of the possibilities for the full-fledged employment of people with a limitation.
- Results can only be achieved through cooperation with various partners, government, NGO, civil society, employers 'organizations and employees' organizations.
- Europe can support through the various social programs to achieve full-fledged employment through project work.
- The realization of a book or a digital platform with good examples can support the new and existing initiatives.
- A platform of initiatives with the same social objectives and for people with a disability can yield positive results, both in terms of efficiency and effectiveness. EPSIN wants to continue working on this in the future.