According to the report, available statistics indicate that the labour force inactivity rate of workers with disabilities tends to be much higher than that of other workers. For example, 40 per cent of disabled people of working age were employed in the EU in 2003, compared to 64.2 per cent of people without disability. What is more, 52 per cent of EU working age disabled persons are economically inactive, compared to 28 per cent of people without disability.
Disabled people, and women with disabilities in particular, are generally very disadvantaged in the labour market. They tend to be more inactive, to be over-represented among the unemployed and to have much lower earnings than non-disabled people. Their experience of early adult life is often beset by frustration, disappointment, and reduced confidence in the strengths they bring to the labour market because career aspirations have simply not translated into employment.
The global report also highlights the many other challenges disabled people face in the world of work. Disabled workers are generally concentrated in low-level, low-paid jobs, and are not adequately represented at higher levels. Problems of access to the physical environment, including transportation, housing and workplaces, risk of losing benefits on starting work, coupled with still-held prejudices among many employers, co-workers and the general public, aggravate an already difficult situation.
Chief among the improvements that have been accomplished during the past two decades is the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2006. It provides a platform to enable all stakeholders to move together forward in ensuring that persons with disabilities enjoy human rights on an equal basis with others. These principles of the new UN Convention are in line with relevant ILO standards, including the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159), which has been ratified by 80 countries.
The report concludes that disabled people represent a vast group of frequently untapped potential, and make good, dependable employees who are more likely to stay on the job.
The ILO organized a panel discussion at its Geneva headquarters on “Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities” as part of a series of worldwide events aimed at promoting better understanding of disability issues and mobilizing support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. At the same time, other events marking the day were held around the world.