Consultation on Employment Opportunities for People with Disability

Picture: blog.amsvans.com

The Federal Government is continuing to seek public consultation on proposals to boost employment participation for people with disability, as the February 15 submission deadline approaches.

Policy reform, that examines ways to increase employment participation and eliminate workplace discrimination for people with disability, is part of a major discussion paper released by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten.

“We need a game changer to address the unconscious bias against people with disability in the Australian workforce,” Shorten said when announcing the consultation process in December.

“Employees with disability have, on average, better attendance rates, higher job retention and fewer occupational health and safety incidents than other employees.

“However, the labour force participation rate of people without disability is 82 per cent and only 54 per cent for people with disability.

“Australians with disability deserve the right to an ordinary life.”

A recent study by Deloitte Access Economics found that if the gap in the participation rate and unemployment rate for people with and without disability could be reduced by one-third and phased in over the next decade, the cumulative impact on GDP over the next decade would be $43 billion.

The Government discussion paper, Improving Employment Participation of People with Disability, seeks public views on how to best achieve reform, including:

• Improving equality for people with disability in employment and in the workplace;
• Promoting among employers the elimination of discrimination on the basis of a person’s disability; and
• Improving the productivity and competitiveness of Australian business through the advancement of people with disability in the workplace.

“The ASX have agreed to work with the Government to benchmark what best practice disability reporting and employment among Australia’s top companies looks like, so that an example can be set for others,” Shorten said. 

“We must ensure that all Australians, regardless of disability, are able to find a job, earn a wage, enjoy the dignity of work and prosper from satisfying and rewarding careers.

“That’s why the Government is committed to creating lasting opportunities for employment for people with disability and we know employers are the key.

“I encourage people with disability, employers, unions and peak organisation to take the time to read the discussion paper and provide written submissions so we can work together to shape this important reform.”

Copies of the discussion paper are available at http://deewr.gov.au/disabilityreporting
or by email request to dmh@deewr.gov.au.

Email submission to: dmh@deewr.gov.au
Submissions will close at 5pm (EST) February 15, 2013.
For further information contact dmh@deewr.gov.au