Paris Seminar

Workability Europe Seminar

Paris, 20 April 2011

Employment of PWD:

Cooperation Between European Enterprises

Towards an Inclusive Labour Market

The seminar held in Paris under the title "Cooperation Between European Enterprises Towards an Inclusive Labour Market" is part of the PROGRESS programme of the European Union. Workability Europe together with its French members FEGAPEI (National Federation of Associations of Service Providers to People with Disabilities) and GESAT (National Organisation of Sheltered Workshops) organised the seminar which took place on 20 April. The seminar is part of 6 seminars to be hold throughout 2011 across Europe.

The seminar was held in a conference room of Paris City Hall. Véronique Dubarry, Deputy Mayor and responsible for persons with disabilities welcomed the participants and delivered a keynote speech, noting that the Paris City Council is fulfilling its obligation to employ people with disabilities.

Philippe Calmette, Director General of FEGAPEI, presented his organisation and briefly explained the employment situation of disabled people in France. He emphasised the difference between the employment rates of disabled and able-bodied persons.
Mr Hans Vrind, president of Workability Europe and François Kuentz, Director of European Affairs at FEGAPEI and President of FEDES (Federation of European Social Employers) then explained the role of the seminar within Workability Europe’s work plan and set the stage for the day.
Alain Couture of FEGAPEI took up the role of moderator for the day.

1^st round table

Topic: What role can employers and social service providers play to establish inclusive labour markets for people with disabilities?

During this round table, the European level agreement of 25 March 2010 was discussed which aims to create inclusive labour markets for people with disabilities as well as better market integration.
Thierry Weishaupt, President of the Euclid network, explained the importance of participation in social dialogue and the strategy adopted by FEGAPEI to participation in this dialogue. He also outlined CEEP’s participation as a stakeholder in this dialogue.

2^nd round table

Topic: The impact of new legislative provisions in France on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market.

Serge Milano, Director of the cabinet of Anne-Marie Montchamp, French Secretary of State for people with disabilities who developed the law of February 2005, explained her involvement in shaping parts of this text on the employment of persons with disabilities.
Based on the theme of the day, that is to say inclusion, it demonstrated everything in the legal context which led to a reconciliation or a better integration of workers in the ordinary workplace. Since the switch adapted enterprises within the ordinary working environment, thus opening up better facilities to allow to ESAT workers access to companies within the commercial environment.

3^rd round table

Topic: Which national and European networks do develop relationships with companies and to favour the inclusion in the labour market for people with disabilities? (Achievements, current strategies and expectations)

During the roundtable, the devices facilitating access to employment for persons with disabilities in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the Flemish part of Belgium, Germany and France were described and commented upon.

4^th round table

Theme: The strategies and business plans for access to employment for persons with disabilities.

Stakeholders have developed this theme in the French arena but also in the broader context of Europe. Emmanuel Chansou, director of GESAT, outlined the three main missions of GESAT, namely to foster and promote the protected work, and develop and professionalize the supply element in the protected area and then assist companies in their procurement policy in the protected sector and the “adapted” workshops. He also expressed the wish to expand in Europe the comprehensive basis of ESAT and EA as was already launched in France.

Conclusion:

Over 60 participants from various European countries have contributed their various opinions to the success of the seminar.

European network of Workability Europe, it is envisaged, inter alia, to develop and adapt the French experience of GESAT to other individual countries - and to further strengthen especially cooperation with large international industrial groups.
It is an ambitious project for Workability and its partners for years to come.
The PROGRESS programme continues its work.

 Participants were invited to attend the next seminar to be held on the 22nd of June 2011 in Budapest.