Over 200 participants attended our conference “Technology in employment. A step towards inclusion” that took place on 11 May in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The conference, supported by Google.org., introduced the findings of our European research on “Digital Skills, Accommodation, and Technological Assistance for Employment”. We thank our member the Slovenian National Disability Council – NSIOS – for the support in organising it.
The conference was preceded by addresses from Marko Lotrič, President of the National Council of the Republic of Slovenia; Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia; Mateja Toman, President of the National Council for Disability Issues; Dan Juvan, State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities and Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum.
Marko Lotrič opened the day by underlining the importance of including persons with disabilities in the community. He highlighted the need to support people with disabilities who cannot work and to guarantee equal access to political and public life.
He stated that:
The ability to decide our own life and destiny is key for everybody’s (ability to enjoy their life).
President Pirc Musar welcomed the recent change in law that allows persons with disabilities to vote in Slovenia regardless of their legal capacity status, and underlined the importance of funding and supporting organisations of persons with disabilities.
She said that:
The EU has a duty to protect the rights of all people, including persons with disabilities.
Mateja Toman, president of the National Council of Slovenia, highlighted the advances in disability rights made possible by Slovenia, having joined the European Union 20 years ago. She explained how transnational cooperation is advancing accessibility and inclusion, for example, through the pilot project of the European Disability Card, through accessible tourism and through raising awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities.
She stated:
We like to emphasise the principle Nothing about us without us. (…) the inclusive society is the only one possible in the 21st century.
Dan Juvan spoke about access to the labour market, and how it should be through adapting employment to people. He mentioned Slovenia uses the quota system to boost employment. He stated that:
We follow the social model of disability, and this is key to providing further protections in the labour market.
Ioannis Vardakastanis, President of EDF, closed the welcoming remarks by drawing attention to the upcoming European elections and calling our members to be deeply involved in the process. He mentioned the different crises happening in the world pandemic, the effect of the invasion of Russia on Ukraine, the energy crisis, the cost of living, climate change, the war in Gaza and how persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by them.
On Gaza, our President issued a strong statement towards a ceasefire and support to persons suffering from the war:
Also, in Gaza, the brutal war continues. While we are talking, people with disabilities in Gaza are under attack, starving and cut off.
He closed with a call for the movement to remain United:
The vote matters, but more than the vote, our unity, diversity and determination to protect human rights in an unknown, uncertain and historical cycle
Findings of European Research
The first panel of the conference presented the findings of the DATA Project, European research on Digital Skills, Accommodation, and Technological Assistance for Employment.
Our Executive Committee member Nadia Hadad moderated a panel that included EDF staff members Roberta Lulli and Filippo Sinicato, who managed the project and Álvaro Couceiro, who prepared the survey and processed the first findings.
Nadia Hadad underlined the inadequate employment rate for persons with disabilities and how governments, companies and other actors need to prioritise an inclusive, open labour market. She added that we should harness technology’s potential and ensure all persons with disabilities have access to assistive technology, measures of reasonable accommodation and access to digital tools for all.
Roberta Lulli, EDF project officer, introduced the scope of the research that took place in 26 EU countries and the UK. She explained that the report contains best practices, testimonies, and recommendations to organisations of persons with disabilities, employers, and policymakers.
Álvaro Couceiro explained that the research was understood due to the lack of data available about how persons with disabilities have access to reasonable accommodation and assistive technology at work. This is compounded by a lack of unified approach to the subject across Europe.
Filippo Sinicato, our Social policy and project officer presented the findings:
- 75% of employers do not have accessible recruitment policies.
- 70% of employers do not have reasonable accommodation as a standardised Human Resources procedure.
- 40% of employers lack experience with candidates with disabilities.
- Lack of awareness from employers about assistive technologies.
- Lack of public support in some countries.
- Organisations of persons with disabilities often need to act as facilitators between companies that produce technologies and the final users.
Participants raised the following topics:
- Information on specific types of disabilities: it was discovered that visual disabilities were those where more was done to improve access to assistive technology while intellectual and learning disabilities lack support on the issue.
- The importance of also researching awareness raising and human bias in the employment process.
Role of technology for inclusion in employment
The second panel, moderated by EDF Youth Committee member Nina Portolan, brought together Maureen Piggot, EDF executive committee member responsible for Artificial Intelligence; Tea Jarc, confederal secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation; and Tomaž Čučnik, Secretary-General Alliance of Companies Employing Persons with Disabilities. They discussed the role of technology in supporting the employment of persons with disabilities.
Maureen Piggot focused on digital skills and Artificial Intelligence. She underlined that 92% of all job market positions require digital skills. She added that we need to improve access to assistive devices and new technologies that can make younger better prepared for the world of work.
She spoke about EDF’s work on disability-inclusive AI and the potential of AI in simplifying and enabling access to information.
Tea Jarc, Confederal Secretary of the ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation), focused on legislative needs and the role of trade unions:
- EU Artificial Intelligence Act: She underlined the shortcomings of the AI Act in protecting and supporting trade unions.
- Telework: ETUC advocates for the inclusion of reasonable accommodation and financial support for home adaptations for workers with disabilities in telework regulations. Tea Jarc added that the right to telework should be collectively bargained.
- Gig economy: She underlined the need to ensure the right of workers with disabilities’ rights engaging in the gig economy
When talking about Artificial Intelligence, Tea Jarc stated that:
It is essential that algorithms used in the work environment should undergo an independent fundamental rights and impact assessment.
Tomaž Čučnik, representing the Slovenian Alliance of Companies Employing Persons with Disabilities, explained systems in place to ensure employment in the open labour market. He stated that EU state aid rules must be changed to boost support from authorities for the employment of persons with disabilities.
During the discussion, participants raised the following topics:
- How measures to boost employment of persons with disabilities have better results for men than women with disabilities.
- The exclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities and complex support needs from the open labour market. Participants highlighted the need for a specific focus on bringing together employers, technology providers and other stakeholders to the discussion, as well as the potential of AI to support persons with intellectual disabilities.
- Self-employment initiatives, including the need for a system of payment for reasonable accommodation for self-employed people.
- Quota system for universities for persons with disabilities
- Paid accessible traineeship for persons with disabilities.
Ask, Listen, Implement
The last panel of the conference focused on the recommendations of European research, summarised by the slogan “ask, listen, implement”. It included Ibrahim Tamditi, one of the participants in the research; Jonathan Elebjörk Wahlström, co-chair of EDF’s Youth Committee; and Branka Jovanović, HR Senior Specialist Spar Slovenija. The panel was moderated by our director, Catherine Naughton.
Ibrahim Tamditi focused on three main issues that he perceived in his experience:
- Ignorance from employers and colleagues who do not understand his needs and rights.
- Budgeting from companies that sometimes refuse to pay for programmes or undergo procedures for reasonable accommodation.
- Flexibility, in terms of adapting their procedures and digital tools. He used examples of teleworking or ensuring accessible videoconferencing or document management systems.
Jonathan Elebjörk Wahlström, co-chair of our Youth Committee, underlined barriers in the recruitment process and in accessing accommodations in the workplace, especially when workers are young and it’s their first experience. He underlined that training is key, that it must be accessible and include training on digital tools.
Branka Jovanović, from Spar Slovenija explained her companies’ support for persons with disabilities, including purchasing assistive devices, guaranteeing accessible and inclusive training and activities.
During the discussion, participants raised the following points:
- Support for employees who are informal carers of persons with disabilities.
- Projects regarding incubators for enterprises and social inclusion.
- Consider a Universal Design Approach to find connection between employers and employees and make the work environment more inclusive.
Recommendations
Maureen Piggot closed the conference by presenting recommendations of the upcoming report:
- Policymakers must increase the focus on digital skills taught in schools.
- Employers and tech companies must involve organisations of persons with disabilities in the development, design and deployment of assistive tools.
- Public authorities must increase state aid available to employers to cover costs incurred.
- Employers must invest in and promote training for managers and human resources staff. This must include training on how to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities and make recruitment processes accessible.
- Strengthening the link between organisations of persons with disabilities and trade unions.
The conference was followed by our General Assembly.