On 18 February 2017, the European Disability Forum (EDF) organised a conference titled “Inclusive Workplaces: Employment of Persons with Disabilities in the Labour Market” in collaboration with its Maltese member, the Malta Federation of Organisations of Persons with Disability (MFOPD).
The right to work and employment for persons with disabilities is enshrined in Article 27 of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), which indicates that persons with disabilities have the right to work, on an equal basis with others, in an open, inclusive and accessible labour market.
Following the discussions during the conference, EDF’s Board of Directors adopted a resolution to highlight key issues and call for concrete actions from the institutions of the European Union (EU) and its Member States. Among others, they are calling for:
- Adequate collection of data on employment, accessibility and reasonable accommodation;
- Effecting implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
- Development and promotion of positive actions targeting women with disabilities and employment;
- The right to work and the freedom of movement for persons with disabilities;
- Phasing out of sheltered workshops and comparable employment settings;
- Adoption of a strong and ambitious European Accessibility Act;
- Inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
More information on the resolution and actions proposed can be found here