A project to reduce discrimination in employment against people with disabilities is launched.

With the aim to reduce discrimination in the workplace and to include people with disabilities in the labour market, Valmiera Development Agency has launched the Interreg Central Baltic Sea Region project “Stronger Together towards a more inclusive labour market”. From 18 to 19 June, a project kick-off meeting took place in Valmiera, during which the partners discussed the activities planned in the project, the timetable for implementation and the results to be achieved.

Stronger Together aims to create a more inclusive labour market by encouraging employers to implement anti-discrimination policies in their organisations and by ensuring the employment of people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs. The project will be implemented in partnership with the Latvian Samaritans Association and the Coompanion Östergötland Ekonomisk Förening in Sweden.

“The labour market is increasingly experiencing a shortage of both highly skilled and engineering professionals and low-skilled workers. While employers are gradually becoming more open to employing people with disabilities in these circumstances, additional motivational measures, employer education, encouragement and advisory support are needed. Together with experienced partners in Latvia and Sweden we will pilot a new service “Employee as a Service”, which will pave the way for the implementation of anti-discrimination policies in companies and organisations, reduce concerns and stereotypes on both sides – employers and employees – and ensure employment of people with disabilities,” says Ilze Eglāja, Chairperson of the Board of Valmiera Development Agency.

The project addresses several challenges. First, the labour market has a low employment rate for people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs. Secondly, there is a lack of knowledge, stereotypes and concerns among employers about the employability of these people. Third, there is an imbalance in the labour market, with able disabled people willing to work but a lack of demand from employers. And fourth, there is a lack of employment services for people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs.

Director of the Latvian Samaritans Association Andris Bērziņš: “There are enough stereotypes about the employment of people with disabilities in Latvian society and among employers. On the other hand, there are misunderstandings and perhaps painful experiences in the past. There is no one-size-fits-all recipe, but there are many positive experiences from which we can learn. We know that by taking a few steps towards each other, employers can get great, loyal and dedicated employees, and disabled people can gain independence, self-confidence and the chance to be in charge of their own lives. We know that the path is not easy, but we are convinced that we can be a bridge to help both. Together with Stronger Together partners, we have found ways to help and address the situation, so we are happy to be part of the project team.”

The project will deliver the following activities and results:

1. A guide for employers on how to apply anti-discrimination policies in their organisation will be developed. The guide will also provide practical templates for anti-discrimination policy documents;
2. A training programme for employers wishing to employ people with intellectual disabilities will be developed and implemented. At least 60 employers from Latvia and Sweden will participate in the training;
3. A training programme will be developed and implemented for people with intellectual disabilities who want to enter the labour market. At least 60 people from Latvia and Sweden will participate in the training;
4. As a result of the project activities, at least 40 Latvian and Swedish employers will apply anti-discrimination policies in the employment of people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs;
5. The results of the project, including the new social service “Employee as a Service”, will become an inspiration and practical solution for other employers, employers’ organisations and municipalities in the Central Baltic Sea Region.

Camilla Carlsson, Executive Director of the East Gotland Economic Associations: “Given the ageing population and the increasing demand for workers in different fields in the labour market, everyone in society should have the opportunity to enter the labour market, taking into account their abilities and skills. Growth between employers and employees can only happen if everyone is empowered to contribute to the growth of the economy. This is exactly what Stronger Together aims to do: to support employers to employ people with disabilities. The project’s activities will help to create growth for both employers and employees and create opportunities for those in society who have previously found it challenging to enter the labour market, thus contributing to the economic development of the region.”

Stronger Together will run until 2027. The project will be implemented by April 2021-2027 under the Interreg Central Baltic Sea Region CBC Programme 2021-2027. The project is part of the sub-programme “Improved employability in the labour market”. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.