EU Employment Strategy

Within the EU Employment Strategy, each Member State produces an annual National Employment Reform Programme and there are European Commission recommendations for each country. The European Commission also produces an annual progress report. ANED's work programme includes periodic review and monitoring of these processes. For example, the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs (2008-2010) noted that: ‘Equal opportunities and combating discrimination are essential for progress... Particular attention must also be paid to significantly reducing employment gaps for people at a disadvantage, including disabled people...' (p27).

The Commission's Disability Action Plan priorities for 2008-2009 also included specific concern for the employment of disabled people, in terms of accessibility, participation and discrimination. The launch of new EU Disability Strategy in 2010 poses new challenges. The most relevant EU legislation affecting the employment of disabled people has been Directive 2000/78 establishing the framework for non-discrimination (based on Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam). This Directive required all EU Member States to implement national legislation for non-discrimination in employment.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities includes specific reference to employment. Article 27 affirms that disabled people should have opportunities to ‘gain a living' through ‘work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market ... that is open, inclusive and accessible'. The most relevant examples of actions cited in the UN Convention are:

• Non-discrimination
• Policies, affirmative action programmes, incentives and other measures;
• Reasonable accommodation in the workplace
• Return-to-work programmes and vocational rehabilitation
• Vocational guidance and training
• Employment in the public sector and the private sector
• Employment in the open labour market (vs. sheltered employment)
• Equal opportunities and equal pay
• Labour and trade union rights
• Self-employment, entrepreneurship, and starting one's own business