Promoting the employment of persons with disabilities remains a major challenge for labour markets across Europe and the EU Neighbourhood. Despite progress in legislation, policy frameworks and awareness of disability rights, persons with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to accessing and remaining in employment. These include limited access to appropriate skills development and employment support, inaccessible workplaces, employers' concerns about recruitment and accommodation costs, and persistent stereotypes and discrimination. While many countries have introduced measures to promote inclusive employment, translating policy commitments into effective and sustainable labour market outcomes remains challenging. Addressing these barriers requires not only appropriate legislation and public support measures, but also stronger employer engagement, accessible and effective employment services, and closer cooperation between public authorities, social partners and persons with disabilities themselves.
Recent European and international work has highlighted the importance of moving from policy commitments to practical measures that support the recruitment, retention and career development of persons with disabilities. The European Commission's EU Anti Poverty Strategy but more importantly the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 and the related Disability Employment Package provide a framework for strengthening employment opportunities, including through employer support, reasonable accommodation and more effective employment services. Building on this agenda, the European Training Foundation has been examining approaches to the labour market integration and skills development of persons with disabilities in its partner countries, including the challenges affecting the implementation of inclusive employment policies. This work underlines the need to better understand which policy instruments and support services produce results, how employers can be encouraged to adopt inclusive practices, and how the gap between existing policy frameworks and their implementation can be overcome. Particular attention is also needed to the participation of persons with disabilities in the design and delivery of services intended to support them.
Within this context, the webinar will explore how research evidence and practical experience can inform more effective approaches to promoting the employment of persons with disabilities, combining European, regional and country-level perspectives. Following an ETF introduction to frame the topic, the presentations will examine the role of employers and social partners in facilitating inclusive employment and reasonable accommodation, the effectiveness of employment support measures, and the potential of participatory approaches to bridge the gap between policy and practice. The discussion will provide an opportunity to identify practical lessons and policy implications for strengthening inclusive employment in ETF partner countries.
You can find the agenda as attachment to this page.
The presentations, a short summary and the webinar recording will be available soon.
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