5 March
Government report on welfare reforms - the Employers' Forum on Disability comments
The government has today published a radical review of the welfare system in David Freud's 'Reducing Dependency, Increasing Opportunity: options for the future of welfare to work' report.
The report makes several recommendations including:
- Greater use of private and voluntary sector resources and expertise so harder-to-help benefit claimants receive more employment
- Greater rewards for organisations that are successful in helping claimants find and stay in work.
- Greater personalisation of employment support, with higher financial incentives for organisations to target resources at the hardest-to- help who need more support before they are ready to return to work.
- Simplification of the benefits system
The Employers' Forum on Disability welcomes any changes to the benefits system that makes it easier for the long-term unemployed, including people with disabilities on incapacity benefit, to find employment.
It is a fact that employment is beneficial to the physical and mental well-being of individuals as well as being good for the economy.
If these changes are to be successful and the Government's target of 80% employment rate is to be achieved, then it is essential that employers are consulted.
The employer needs to be positioned as a customer in the job market. Where services are outsourced to the private and voluntary sectors, we need to be confident that these organisations are aware of the needs of employers as well as the needs of job seekers. That is the key to ensuring that the employer, the job seeker and the intermediary can understand and negotiate the system, in order to help people return to work.
If those on long-term benefits are to be made attractive to employers, it is essential that the needs of employers are built into the welfare to work process at every step.
Ends
For further information on the Employers' Forum on Disability contact the Forum press office
Issy RuleEmployers' Forum on Disability press office
Telephone: 020 7403 3020
Mobile: 07754 522 521
Email: issy.rule@employers-forum.co.uk
Web: www.employers-forum.co.uk
The Employers' Forum on Disability
The Employers' Forum on Disability is the world's leading employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects business. Funded and managed by 400 members, we make it easier to recruit and retain disabled employees and to serve disabled customers.
The Equalities Review Final Report is available on the Commission for Equality and Human Rights' website.