Frankfurt am Main – In view of the transformation in companies, IG Metall is calling for better prospects for severely disabled people. On the occasion of the International Day of People with Disabilities on December 3rd, the union criticizes the low status of these employees among companies and legislators. Hans-Jürgen Urban, managing board member: “Participation is a human right. And the country cannot afford to ignore people with disabilities. The labor market urgently needs employees. And disabled employees need real opportunities to participate instead of pity.”
Specifically, the union demands that every company must be barrier-free and therefore accepting of people with disabilities. Up to now, companies have been able to buy their way out of employing severely disabled people with a compensatory levy and are only obliged to carry out barrier-free modifications if they employ severely disabled people. This becomes a huge stumbling block, not least when it comes to hiring. According to the Federal Employment Agency, the proportion of severely disabled people in companies is only 4.5 percent. In the total population, however, the proportion is just under 10 percent.
Companies exclude, legislators exclude
Urban: “Severely disabled people are not a cost factor, but an opportunity factor. Without disabled employees, companies forego well-qualified staff.” Studies show that unemployed people with disabilities remain unemployed for significantly longer or do jobs for which they are overqualified. “Socio-ecological change can be an opportunity for companies. “This also includes finally giving people with disabilities better, guaranteed opportunities,” says IG Metall board member Urban.
With regard to the Disability Equality Act announced by the traffic light government and the “Federal Accessibility Initiative”, IG Metall criticizes the fact that the world of work is largely excluded there. Urban: “The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities obliges Germany to promote and prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities. Only inclusion in the labor market shows how far we really are as a society.”