Disability and Employment

At its meeting on 5 June 2023, the Equality and Social Justice Committee agreed to undertake an inquiry into the disability employment and payment gap. The inquiry will explore what progress has been made and what more could be done to reduce and remove barriers to employment faced by disabled people.

 

The information on this page provides more detail about what the Committee is looking at and how you can share your views.

 

We welcome responses to our consultation in the format most suited to the respondent, including but not limited to word, video or voice recording.

 

This consultation is available in a variety of formats including Easy Read, please contact the clerking team to request a format most accessible to you.

 

 

Background

 

Disability is defined by the Equality Act 2010 as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term adversely affects a person's ability to carry out normal day to day activities". For the purpose of this inquiry, this definition encompasses medical disorders, learning disabilities, neurodivergence and other conditions.

 

 

Terms of reference

 

The terms of reference for the inquiry are:

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>>>What progress has been made to deliver the recommendations set out in the ‘Locked Out’ report and to reduce and remove barriers faced by disabled people who want to access Wales’s labour market. Why progress to reduce the employment and pay disability gap has been so difficult to achieve.

>>>How the social model of disability is being used to underpin employment and recruitment practices, and what barriers continue to exist throughout society that impact on access to work (i.e. transport, attitudes).

>>>How effective Welsh Government actions (e.g. the network of Disability Employment Champions and apprenticeships) have been in reducing barriers to employment and reducing the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people, including the extent to which Welsh Government policies complement/ duplicate/ undermine those set by the UK Government.

>>>Whether disabled people are accessing apprenticeships and if any further support is needed to ensure a schemes are inclusive.

>>>What further policy measures are needed to support disabled people, young disabled people and employers to increase participation rates and what can be learned from elsewhere.

>>>What actions would support those who are currently unable to work to access voluntary opportunities (which could lead to future work opportunities).

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How to share your views

 

We want to make sure that our work is informed by experiences, needs, and views that reflect the diversity of the people and communities affected by these issues.

 

We encourage anyone with expertise or experience of these issues to share your views, with the full knowledge that your views will be welcomed and valued.

 

To share your views electronically, please send to SeneddEquality@senedd.wales or by post to Equality and Social Justice Committee, Welsh Parliament, Cardiff, CF99 1SN.

 

The closing date for sharing your views is 16.00 on Monday 9 September 2024.

 

 

Along with your submission, you should provide the following information:

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>>>Your name and contact details as the person, or organisation, submitting the evidence.

>>>Whether your evidence is submitted as an individual, or on behalf of an organisation.

>>>If you are submitting evidence as an individual, confirmation that you are over 18 years old.

>>>If you are under 13 years old, your parent or guardian’s agreement that you can participate (this can be provided via email).

>>>Confirmation of whether you would prefer that your name is not published alongside your evidence (names of individuals under 18 years old will not be published).

>>>Confirmation of whether you would like the Committee to treat any or all of your written evidence as confidential, with reasons for the request.

>>>If you have referred to a third party in your evidence, such as a parent, spouse or relative, confirmation that they have agreed that you can share information that may be used to identify them and that they understand that it will be published.

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Providing Written Evidence

The Senedd has two official languages, Welsh and English.

 

In line with the Senedd’s Official Languages Scheme, the Committee welcomes contributions in both or either of our official languages, and we ask organisations that are subject to Welsh Language standards or schemes to respond in line with their own obligations. Please inform the Committee when submitting responses if you intend to provide a translation at a later date.

 

Please see guidance for those providing evidence for committees.

 

 

Disclosure of information

Please ensure that you have considered the Senedd’s policy on disclosure of information before submitting information to the Committee.