The government has announced new moves to tackle disability discrimination in the workplace.
"One million more employers have until October 2004 to open up their workplaces," minister for disabled people Maria Eagle said on Wednesday.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the new Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations will end the exemption of employers with less than fifteen employees from the law which protects disabled people from discrimination in the workplace.
In addition, police officers, fire fighters and prison officers will also be brought within the scope of the Act's employment provisions from October 2004.
Forum Response: Voice UK
Kathryn Stone, director of Voice UK, told ePolitix.com: "It is excellent news that the law is to be changed in this area. At Voice UK we are only too conscious of the myriad ways that employers get round not employing disabled people. Outlawing such discrimination will be a positive step."
Forum Response: The Disabilities Trust
Matt Townsend, spokesman for the Disabilities Trust, told ePolitix.com: "The Disabilities Trust welcomes the minister's announcement that the amendments to the DDA on workplace exemptions have been debated in both houses of parliament.
"It is now essential that small and medium sized enterprises begin preparation for when these regulations come into force in October next year.
"To help business prepare, the Disability Rights Commission is offering advice and support via a series of free regional seminars to be held around the country over the next few months. We would urge all small businesses to take advantage of such advice."
Forum Response: Shaw Trust
A spokeswoman for Shaw Trust told ePolitix.com: "Shaw Trust supports the long overdue proposal to remove the exemption of employers with less than fifteen employees from the law which protects disabled people in the workplace and we are pleased that the government is marking the European Year of Disabled People by extending the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act in this way.
"Maria Eagle is right when she says that there is an enormous pool of untapped talent amongst disabled people who are of working age but currently not working. However, she understates the scale of injustice currently faced by disabled people. There are in fact 3.6 million disabled people who are of working age but not working. Nobody really knows how many of them could work, given the right opportunity and support. We believe a million is a conservative estimate.
"The extension of the scope of the employment provision of the DDA will be an important step in changing the lives of disabled people but it is only a step. Many of the disabled people who are currently not working need more than a change in the law. Many of the employers who wish to employ severely disabled people need support as well as legal obligation.
"Shaw Trust research shows that there is a real financial incentive for the government to spend money on programmes which support disabled people into the workplace, which enable them to become tax payers rather than recipients of long term state benefits. Programmes such as the New Deal for Disabled People and Workstep provide a vital bridge into work for severely disabled people.
"Shaw Trust challenges the government to demonstrate their commitment to disabled people, not just through legislation but also through an investment of government resources into these and other programmes. It will take such investment to make a real difference not only to the lives of those 3.6 million disabled people but also to reduce the amount that society spends on keeping people who want to work away from the chance to do so."
