25 May 2005 - Employers to recognise talent, not disability, when they see it - McGuire
Work and Pensions Minister Anne McGuire today urged employers to ‘redouble their efforts’ to recruit the talent and skill into the workplace which Britain’s 10 million disabled people have to offer.
Speaking today at the TUC in her first speech as Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire insisted that the Government had rightly paved the way with equality legislation. However she argued the time had come for employers and Government to pool their efforts to end a legacy of exclusion from the workplace for disabled people.
She said:
“Only seven years ago, many disabled people had no rights at work.
In a generation we had seen the number of people out of work and claiming
incapacity benefits more than treble.
“Since then, there have been real landmarks. The New Deal has helped
almost a quarter of a million disabled people into work; and in the past
year, we’ve extended protection from discrimination to 600,000 more
disabled workers, 7 million more jobs and over 1 million more employers.
And the economy is already reaping the benefits.”
Calling for employers to make a reality out of the reforms she said:
“Many employers are already realising that they need to recognise talent – not disability – when they see it. It’s about harnessing and developing that talent. It’s about liberating disabled people from the prejudices and misconceptions that have held them back for so long.
“The Trade Unions have played a key role in driving the disability agenda. Now, I think the rest of society is catching up. More employers are realising there’s a compelling business case for employing disabled people. It isn’t just an ethical responsibility, it’s a business imperative.”
The Government recently brought in changes to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 so no employer, regardless of size, can reasonably discriminate against disabled employees or jobseekers. It legislated for further rights this April under the DDA 2005. It is driving forward ambitious proposals to reform Incapacity Benefits and the delivery of public services for disabled people.
Notes to editors
1. Work and Pensions Minister Anne McGuire today delivered a keynote speech at the TUC’s Disability Conference in Congress House, London.
2. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 outlaws discrimination against disabled people in employment, as well as to the supply of goods, facilities and services.
3. The employment provisions of the 1995 Act originally exempted employers with less than 20 employees. This was reduced to 15 in 1998. In October 2004 the exemption of small employers as well as the police, fire and prison services were also ended from the employment provisions further to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations.
4. The Disability Discrimination Act defines disability as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. The estimated number of adults in Britain covered by this definition is 9.8 million.
5. A recent press notice on the DDA 2005 can be found at www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2005/apr/dda_royal_assent.asp
6. The Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People sets out a twenty year vision with recommendations on four key aspects of disabled people’s life chances: independent living, early years and family support, transition to adulthood and employment. A copy is available from www.strategy.gov.uk/output/Page5046.asp
7. There are 6.9 million disabled people of working age (16-59/64) in Great Britain accounting for nearly a fifth of the working age population; 50% of disabled people of working age are in work, compared to 81% of non-disabled people (the employment rate of all employees is 75%); The income of disabled people is, on average, less than half that of non-disabled people.
8. A photo of Anne McGuire is available on request.
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