Alternative employment models for people with disabilities

This article provides details on the key terminology tackled in the upcoming European Commission Study “alternative employment models for persons with disabilities: Set-up, working conditions and pathways to the open labour market in inclusive enterprises and sheltered workshops”.

Sheltered Employment

It is generally understood that sheltered employment is a specific type of work arrangement designed to fit the needs of persons with disabilities. It is outside of the mainstream labour market, and entails tailored training and support services. It must be clarified that sheltered workshops are a form of sheltered employment, yet not all sheltered employment takes the form of sheltered workshops.

This model of ‘employment’ is often referred to as segregating due to its nature of being designed for persons with disabilities and due to those models outside the open labour market. However, there are models of shelter employment which aren’t segregating and combine both persons with disabilities and persons without disabilities. One of the major questions addressed in the development of the Study refers to what makes an enterprise segregating and which percentage should the threshold under or above which an enterprise could be segregating. EPR members believe that the level of segregation or inclusion should not be measured by the percentage of workers with disabilities but rather by qualitative criteria. These could include elements, such as but not limited to:

• The type of employment contract awarded to employees;
• The pay received by employees;
• The participation of employees in decision-making processes within a workplace;
• The opportunities for career development and progression;
• The availability of reasonable accommodation when required;
• The training and upskilling opportunities for employees.

The terms ‘sheltered employment’ or ‘sheltered workshop’ are defined differently amongst EU Member States. In some countries, there is a clear distinction between sheltered workshop and sheltered employment. Sheltered workshops (also known as occupational workshops) are mostly not considered as work, but a form of therapy. In some cases, sheltered employment is not only defined by type of organization and type of activity, but also type of pay i.e. social benefits or allowances versus actual wage. In other countries, sheltered workshops no longer exist. Governments rather invest in supported employment schemes and prioritise the transition to the open labour market via mainstreamed services. Many offers for support are established as phases on a longer pathway to employment. In addition, day centres may offer different forms of occupation, some resemble sheltered workshops.