EMPLOYMENT Vocational Rehabilitation

Promoting employment requires greater equality of access to jobs and incomes. Current global trends seem to be intensifying rather than reducing inequality. Employment policies are required which favour universal access to jobs and incomes, both to reduce poverty and exclusion and to take full advantage of human capabilities in the creation of income and wealth.

There are a number of groups of workers who are particularly vulnerable to labour market inequality. Older workers, who are displaced from regular, protected jobs, are often excluded prematurely from work or end up in precarious jobs. Disabled workers face equally serious problems. The InFocus Employment Programmes will also address efforts to deal with the need of these groups. Thus, the Programme on Small Enterprises will aim to open employment opportunities for them, and the Programme on Knowledge and Skills should be of particular significance for all groups.