Greater acceptance of disability in the workplace?

New move to encourage disabled staff employment

New move to encourage disabled staff employment

Remploy is to host a major conference in 2005 designed to promote the employment of disabled people in the workplace.

It will focus on job opportunities and development for disabled workers.

Remploy, which is the UK’s largest employer of disabled people, believes that recent legislative changes and labour market conditions are leading to more disabled people being employed.

It cites the recent extension of the Disability Discrimination Act to cover small businesses, labour shortages and a greater sense of corporate responsibility on the part of business as key drivers.

Chief executive Bob Warner, delivering a New Year’s message, said: “We are at a crucial stage in the development of employment for disabled people. We have the Government’s desire to get more disabled people into work signalled by the recent extension of the Disability Discrimination Act.”

“We are finding a growing pull from employers driven by labour shortages and Corporate Social Responsibility. There is a strongly-voiced demand from disabled people for more opportunity and a clear message from all to look for inclusive solutions.”

“Now is the time to bring these imperatives together to make real progress. To focus these important developments, we are planning a major conference in 2005 to bring together interested parties to debate and chart the future of employment opportunities for disabled people.”

The Government is keen to move more disabled people off benefits and into the workplace and so is likely to support moves for a conference.