UĦM Voice of the Workers eMagazine issue 26

VOICE OF THE

WORKERS ISSUE 26 July 2014

Contents Crossing the Ability Divide

02

The Challenge for Personal Integration & Independence

03

Disability: Multifaceted Issues 05

Changing Hearts and Minds Nine-times Wimbledon tennis champion Martina Navratilova once said: “Disability is a matter of perception. If you can do just one thing well, you’re needed by someone.” The issue of disability may be a misnomer if we are to talk about people who have different but useful abilities.

Disability issues have come a long way from the time that individuals were kept hidden and locked up, out of public view. People are becoming more educated, and perceptions are changing.

However, we are significantly far off from the stage where we VOICE OF THE

WORKERS

can call our society inclusive. A clear lithmus test of inclusivity is participation of disabled people at the workplace. Here, participation is very low, and the number of disabled persons looking for work is on the increase.

Reasons for this are various. One issue is the sheer diversity of disabled persons. This makes it very difficult to draft one size fits all policies. Since needs and issues are different, so are the solutions to tackling them.

Other issues include employer and employee attitudes. Many

The Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe

06

Disability: The bigger picture

07

Editor’s note josef Vella look to employ disabled people as an act of charity; others prefer to publicly declare what needs to be done, but fail to walk the talk. Many times, we fail to see that employing disabled persons may actually be a bonus to the organisation. Some persons would need specific training that will prove profitable in the long run.

Naturally, since disability issues vary, there may be persons who can be provided with sheltered employment. This can be done through co-operatives, whereby groups of disabled persons and 1

editorial

their carers could provide services on a commercial basis. This commercial activity, however, will have a clear social dimension.

All persons have a right to a full, independent life. We need to work and co-operate together, so that everyone will have a chance at feeling useful, actualised and independent. We need to further improve our strategies and become more proactive in our approach. If we really believe in an inclusive society, then this is the path we all need to follow.

UHM believes that there are numerous opportunities that are

open to us. First and foremost, the public service and its entities can set a national example.

There are various government services that can be contracted out to social co-operatives.

These also include work done at local council level. The work contracted , apart from being extremely useful, will be enough to keep workers busy for years.

In the private sector, we need to beef up our efforts at changing perceptions, making employment for disabled persons a viable proposition. There are persons who are perfectly qualified to

fill certain posts. Others who need assistance can also be integrated by having a system that makes it easier for all sides for employment to be provided. Here, literally matching needs with needs can turn out to be a winwin situation.

Malta’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons is a concrete step in the right direction. But a changes in law and political support is not enough. We need a further change in hearts and minds. It is then that inclusion and integration can really become reality.

Crossing the Ability Divide Disabled or able? Disabled persons have a lot to offer to themselves, their families, and to the country in general. They are a resource that needs to be tapped in meaningful ways. The right to work is a fundamental right of every individual. As a society we need to make sure that everyone is in a position to contribute to society by means of work, whether it is normal employment or assisted or sheltered employment. Malta’s one and only resource is it people. we can really call ourselves a developed nation if we really work towards the integration of each and every person in society. Disabled persons are really able. An improvement in attitude is all that is needed.

VOICE OF THE

WORKERS

2

feature story

The Challenge for Personal Integration & Independence Interview with Oliver Scicluna Chairperson of the National Commission Persons with Disability - KNPD

1. How does Malta stand vis-avis the rest of the EU in terms of the integration of workers with disability in the labour market? Malta’s position is not really conforming either with the employment law (2%) quota or with others in the EU, where we find ourselves at the bottom of the list of having persons with a disability in employment.

What worries me is that during the past eight years we have seen a substantial decrease of employed Persons with Disability (PwD). According to statistical data from ETC, this drop was of approximately 15.3%. Moreover, in the past 8 years Persons with Disability who are registering for a job increased. This increase was from 340 persons to 515 persons.

Employers need to realize that a person with a disability has abilities and potential. What the employer needs to seek is the potential of the individual VOICE OF THE

WORKERS

This increase could also be taken positively, as that can mean that Persons with Disability are seeking jobs and independent living life styles. What hinders them is the lack of opportunities given by the employers.

2. What, in your view, are the major challenges to achieve better integration of workers with disability into the labour market?

My first concern is that the employer needs to be more educated about different disabilities and not putting everyone in the same pigeon hole. Employers need to realize that a person with a disability has abilities and potential. What the employer needs to seek is

the potential of the individual. It depends on the kind of disability, as different disabilities have different needs and require different support and sometimes even no support at all. The public sector has the highest number of Persons with Disability although it is still below the 2% quota. In my opinion it is more beneficial for the public sector to employ a Person with Disability, then letting him or her live on social benefits.

As I stated before, the Private sector can also play a huge role in this as it is of great importance that different potentials are identified and utilised. This would enable Persons with Disability to live independently whilst helping economical growth. The challenges that remain include lack of understanding of diverse disabilities, lack of accessibility, whether physical or informational, as well as lack of opportunities due to pre judgment.

3. What is the role of KNPD in cultivating this culture of inclusion? KNPD is here to regularize and share more awareness about inclusion and equality. We do not 3

feature story

just believe in inclusion but we do it in practice even as an employer.

More then half of our staff has a disability. We have to be the model before speaking out to the general public. As regulator, KNPD has the Equal Opportunities Act and has a CRPD unit which, on a daily basis, receives reports of abuses or discrimination on basis of disability. As a good number of these are job related, we seek to always solve issues with the employer being reported, whilst defending the rights of persons with a disability. It is of utmost importance that KNPD promotes abilities, and shares the message that everyone in the world has different capabilities. We just need to identify them and make good use of them.

4. What cultural changes do you envisage that need to happen in light of Malta’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons, specifically Article 27, dealing with work and employment? The Employment Act on its own is not enough, and undoubtedly, if this law is enforced, we’ll find many employers who are in fact in breach of it. Since there is a vast spectrum, when dealing with many different disabilities, the state is required to be ready to accommodate everyone according to different needs. In this sense, sheltered employment is appropriate for those who cannot work on their own or travel for work, and supported employment in cases that require support and training, and independent employment where the person just needs minimal accommodation or nothing at all. Having accessible buildings which serve as workplaces as well as accessible information for other different disabilities such as VOICE OF THE

WORKERS

intellectual and sensory, is also of vital importance. This will serve as a platform for more persons with a disability to be employed.

We do really need more education as it is important for society, especially employers, to change their perceptions about persons with a disability in looking at their abilities their disability. New incentives need to be created by the government to allow a person with a disability who wishes to start his/her own business. It is also of utmost importance to realise that the need for accommodation and support is true for all persons, whether these persons are Persons with Disability or not.

5. Given that disability is such a generic word, covering a large cross-section of persons and a diverse array of needs, how can labour policy in this sector work effectively?

The need of job coaches is required as this would prepare persons with a disability to acquire more employment skills, as well as give support, if needed, before and during the

work experience. We cannot deal with employment in the disability sector by putting everyone in the same pigeon hole. Rather, we should have individual plans.

Since Malta is a small country and our numbers are manageable, I believe that it would be easier to commence individual plans from as early as primary education, then to employment and then to later stages in the life of Persons with Disability. This means that we can know what the capabilities and abilities of the person are; we can know the wishes of the person (for example, the career s/he wishes to take), whether the person wishes or can work part, full, or flexi time; whether s/he wishes to futher or stop his or her studies, and most importantly, what type of specific support is needed to achieve these, and other, aims. This has to be done if we are to have a plan for every Person with Disability, including those with intellectual disabilities, to have a plan that takes them to an independent and integrated future.

Mr. Scicluna was interviewed by John Mallia

Since Malta is a small country and our numbers are manageable, I believe that it would be easier to commence individual plans from as early as primary education, then to employment and then to later stages in the life of Persons with Disability

4

MCESD

Disability: Multifaceted Issues When writing about disability issues first and foremost one must keep a very important notion in mind, equality.

Therefore one should take a human rights approach. We are all equal and full citizens, and individuals with some sort of disability have equal rights as any other person and are entitled to equal treatment. They should be fully given the opportunity to be able to participate in social life.

Disability issues are multifaceted and there are many issues which one can speak about.

Social action is needed so as to ensure that disabled persons are integrated within society and one of the main tools to be used in this regard is employment.

Employment does not only lead to further inclusion but to active inclusion. Difficulties

which persons with disability might face include issues which others take for granted.

Employment is sometimes hard to find. EU statistics show that the level of employment amongst disabled individuals is relatively low compared to the number of disabled individuals in the working-age population.

Therefore, one must analyse the current national and EU policies and try to encourage policy makers to make a stronger effort in trying to integrate such individuals in the labour market.

Employment structures need to be enhanced and further developed to be able to cater for all individuals who are looking for a job.

Improved education systems coupled with continuous support and guidance will also help to

bring about further inclusion of persons with disability in our societies. Health and safety regulations are very much in place, however enforcement needs to be encouraged so as to ensure that people with for example physical disabilities have the least amount of problems in accessing public areas.

In Malta, the National Commission Persons with Disability has been doing outstanding work in ensuring that we have an inclusive society within which disabled individuals can reach their life goals and aspirations. Even though work has been continuous and improvement has been registered, one has to ensure that this is an ongoing effort, from all parts of society, so as to ensure that no discrimination takes place against such individuals.

MCESD 280/3, Republic Street, Valletta, VLT1112 Tel: (+356) 2200 3300 www.mcesd.org.mt VOICE OF THE

WORKERS

5

MEUSAC

The Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe Discrimination, as well as physical and attitudinal barriers, still affect one in six citizens in the EU. Statistics show that persons with disabilities are more at risk of poverty than other citizens of the EU, fewer of them have jobs, and their opportunities to enjoy goods and services such as education, healthcare, transport, housing, and technology are more limited.

The EU and its Member States are committed to improve the social and economic situation of persons with disabilities and to create a barrier-free Europe. Article 26 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU states that, ‘the EU recognises and respects the right of persons with disabilities to benefit from measures designed to ensure their independence, social and occupational

integration and participation in the life of the community’.

Moreover, the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU requires the EU to combat discrimination based on disability when defining and implementing its policies and activities and gives it the power to adopt legislation to address such discrimination. The EU and its Member States are also signatories of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

However, the principles written in the treaties, charters and conventions are only effective if translated into actions. This is what the EU is doing through the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020. The Strategy calls upon the EU institutions and the Member States to work

together to build a barrier-free Europe for all and identifies eight priority areas for action: Accessibility of goods and services; Participation in all the benefits of EU citizenship through the removal of barriers to equal participation in public life and leisure activities and the provision of quality community-based services; Equality of opportunities to combat discrimination; to raise significantly the share of persons with disabilities in employment; promotion of inclusive education and training and lifelong learning for all; promotion of decent living conditions to combat poverty and social exclusion; promotion of equal access to health services and related facilities; promotion of the rights of people with disabilities in the EU’s external action.

MEUSAC 280 Republic Street, Valletta VLT 1112 Tel: +356 2200 3315 • Fax: +356 2200 3329 • Email: info.meusac@gov.mt www.meusac.gov.mt VOICE OF THE

WORKERS

6

CIA

Disability: The bigger picture The European Disability Forum (EDF) launches a survey on transport accessibility The European Union made laws about making traveling easy for people with disabilities.

The laws have been in place for one year. The European Disability Forum (in short EDF) wants to know if these laws are respected. Please check for more info and access to survey here:

CAMPAIGN

Documents

http://tinyurl.com/pbydcyj The right to political participation for persons with disabilities: human rights indicators The human rights indicators presented in the report show that legal and administrative barriers, inaccessible processes and information, and a lack of awareness about political rights can deny persons with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the political lives of their communities. More information about the report published by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights – FRA are available here: http://tinyurl.com/nw9c7gf

European Disability Forum, AGE PLATFORM EUROPE & ANEC (the European consumer voice in standardisation) URGE THE COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THE PARLIAMENT’S POSITION Currently, less than one third of public websites are accessible, while over 60% of the European population accesses the Internet everyday. Many citizens, especially persons with disabilities and older people, are excluded from taking full advantage of the internet since the websites are not properly designed for them.

On February 26 2014, Members of the European Parliament showed their strong commitment to a more inclusive internet for all. The Parliament’s report on the proposal for a Directive on the Accessibility of Public Sector Bodies’ Websites and websites operated by entities performing public tasks has introduced extremely valuable changes to the Commission proposal. More information are available here: http://tinyurl.com/o3m55ym

The report is available at this link:

Traineeships for young people with disabilities

http://tinyurl.com/q6lnlzv

In 2014, Autism-Europe members are conducting a campaign to let Europe know about the needs of adults with autism in the field of employment and education.

The Socialist & Democrats Group is particularly concerned about the discrimination faced by young people with disabilities – and the economic and social exclusion that goes with it. They believe the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities means the European institutions are under a legal obligation to legislate in this area, and we want to go further and invite young people to work with us.

For more information about the campaign in different countries, please check here:

For more information about the traineeship , please go to: http://tinyurl.com/msdgpax

Improving quality of life for people with autism Autism and work. Together we can.

http://tinyurl.com/ohbaadt To download the campaign materials check this link: http://tinyurl.com/p87427t

VOICE OF THE

WORKERS

7

informative sources

Online Survey

At EU Level, disability issues are tackled from different aspects, including research, legislative and administrative frameworks, promotions and projects. This information has been collected by the Brussels Office of the Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori.

Video

VOICE OF THE

WORKERS

www.voiceoftheworkers.eu Like us on Facebook for real-time updates

Operational Programme II - Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Empowering People for More Jobs and a Better Quality of Life Project part-financed by the European Union European Social Fund (ESF) Co-financing rate: 72.25% EU, 12.75 MT, 15% Private Funds Investing in your future VOICE OF THE

WORKERS

8