The Commission’s catalogue of positive actions to encourage the hiring of persons with disabilities and combating stereotypes is officially out. Despite the progress made in the last decades, persons with disabilities still encounter many obstacles when it comes to joining the labour market. With employment rates standing at just 50.8% for individuals with disabilities throughout Europe, and an approximate 29.7% facing poverty, there is still a long way to go.

Following the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the right to work and employment on equal basis with others is a basic right. Further reaffirmed by principle 17 of the European Pillar of Social Rights which states the intrinsic right of persons with disabilities to participate in the labour market and have access to a work environment adapted to their needs. As a result, in March 2021 the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 was launched.

The Strategy urges Member States to set in place national targets for employment and adult learning for persons with disabilities, and comes as a continuation to the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020. It encourages an intersectional perspective and acknowledges the multiple disadvantages faced by women, children, older persons, refugees with disabilities, and those with socioeconomic difficulties.

A part of the Strategy is the Disability Employment Package, which provides direction and offers good practices for employers to improve the context of the labour market for persons with disabilities. All stages of employment and the recruitment process are covered by the Package. 

Efforts to strengthen employment and integration services involve:

• Promoting inclusive hiring through affirmative action
• Combating stereotypes
• Ensuring reasonable accommodation
• Prioritising health and safety at work
• Implementing vocational rehabilitation for those with chronic diseases or accidents
• Creating pathways to quality jobs in both sheltered and open employment

The Commission, in partnership with the European Disability Expertise (EDE) project, and members of the Disability Platform’s subgroup on employment, have produced a catalogue of positive actions to encourage the hiring of persons with disabilities and combat stereotypes. The catalogue is a part of the Package’s results and gathers good practices carried out by employers and public authorities across Europe used in the hiring process of persons with disabilities. The aim is to take these practices as examples and inspirations for employers and organisations.

Such projects and catalogues can be useful tools in achieving the targets for employment set by the Strategy, as they not only encourage them but provide tangible examples of practices that have been successful and effectively implemented. You can read more on the topic, and find the catalogue here.