Cameron’s ‘Work for Welfare’ doesn’t help disabled people
8th January 2008
For the Conservative Party's ‘Work for Welfare' plannedreform benefits to be successful, they must specifically include disabledpeople says Employers' Forum on Disability.
Althoughthe Conservatives plan to reassess and cut the number of people on incapacitybenefit by 200,000, no specific mention is made of how disabled people will beattracted into work, or how employerscan be supported to employ and retain those furthest from the job market.
EFD argues that any government shouldaddress the one million disabled people trapped on benefits that want to workbut cannot because of barriers in the system faced by them and by the employersthat have the jobs.
EFD chief executive Susan Scott-Parkersays: "Community work to equipunemployed people with the skills employers need is only part of the answer -EFD members say they find it difficult to attract all disadvantaged jobseekers, including disabled people.
"Employer involvement in any plans for workexperience is vital. David Cameron makes no reference to how this will happen,or how private sector providers will meet the specific needs of disabled peopleand potential employers.
"This would include how benefits assessors andemployers would be equipped to deal with fluctuating conditions, such as mentalhealth conditions, HIV or cancer, but there is no mention of this.
"The types of community programmes talkedabout will give soft skills like time keeping and team work.
"These are all important of course but whatemployers really need is specific skills for specific vacancies.
"The Conservative Party needs to be morespecific about its plans for benefit reform and we would welcome theopportunity to discuss this with them."
Ends
Notes to editors
Media enquiries, please contact:
Liz Nightingale, Communications Manager
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: liz.nightingale@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020
About Employers' Forum on Disability
Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 400 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.