Opening Up the Labour Market to People with Disabilities. The French Experience. François Atger, Territorial Director.

9 octobre 2007/ 2 1. A snapshot of the French population with disabilities 2. An overview of Agefiph 3. Results and prospects

9 octobre 2007/ 3 A snapshot of the French disabled population

9 octobre 2007/ 4 Officially aknowledged disability Sheltered employmentUnable to workNo official title 12.6% of the working age population but only 3.9 % officially aknowledged 1. A snapshot of the French disabled population INSEE HID (1999 census)

9 octobre 2007/ 5 Unemployed Disabled All Women33%47% 50 and older27%16% High school degree and over17%36% Workless since 1 year and over41%31% Workless since 2 years and over19%12% 1. A snapshot of the French disabled population A few figures

9 octobre 2007/ 6 1. A snapshot of the French disabled population 42% working 35 % jobseekers 23% others 3% = retired 8% = illnesses 3% = professional training 9% = ? The french disabled population

9 octobre 2007/ 7 1. A snapshot of the French disabled population Persons with disabilities: Graduate less, Are less trained, Are more touched by recurrent unemployment, Are more often in part-time jobs

9 octobre 2007/ 8 A high inactivity ratio / older workers 1. A snapshot of the French disabled population

9 octobre 2007/ 9 1. A snapshot of the French disabled population 14,9% 53,4% 88,6% 74,5% 58,9% 65,7% 30,5% 1,8% 16 / 2930 / 4950 / 5960 / 64 French populationFrench disabled population [HID 1999 ] Compared activity ratio

9 octobre 2007/ A snapshot of the French disabled population 50 and overHigh school and university graduates Unemployed for over a year Disabled persons Global population Compared features

9 octobre 2007/ 11 An overview

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph Agefiph was created by the 1987 act enforcing a 6% employment quota of disabled persons. Four manners of discharging legal obligation 1. Recruiting 2. Subcontracting with sheltered workshops 3. Signature of a company agreement for employment of disabled persons 4. Payment of a contribution to AGEFIPH For each unit not hired under the 6% quota, the contribution to Agefiph goes form 400 to 600 times the French minimum hourly wage depending the size of the staff of a company.

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph The Agefiph collection (in million ) In 2005 a new act reinforced employment obligations and set stricter rules in the count of disabled units within companies

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph Agefiph is a non profit organization managed jointly by employers, trade unions and associations of disabled persons. 3 activities Tax collection Fund management Project subsidizing

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph 5 main areas are covered 1. Information and awareness campaigns 2. Placement (108 dedicated job centers, plcts in 2007) 3. Return to work - Individualized plans for employment - Vocational guiding and training programs

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph … 5 areas covered 4. Employment assistance Job retention (9 300 in 2007) Self employment (3000 in 2007, average subsidy = advice for 2700) Work adaptations (4000 in 2007, average susidy = 4600) Technical and human assistance 5. Research, experiencing and innovation.

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph Preparing the disabled person Offsetting technical barriers Sensitizing the economic world Technical aids Work adapatations Diagnosis- counselling Agreement policy Increasing entrances on the labour market Placement teams Financial incentives Self employment Reducing non desired leaves Job retention Income guarantee & Vocationnal guidance Vocationnal training

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph Principles of interventions In the private sector Excluding sheltered employment Public partnership (cooperation and co-financing) with the state and local governments

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph Full national coverage 20 branch offices Manpower: 300 employees Core business: requests of subsidies and grants per year Fund raising 604 M companies SUBSIDIZING 470 M persons companies

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph 6,5% 2,5% 27% 64% Direct support to disabled workers and companies [ 64% ] Specialized professionals [ 27% ] Coordination, consulting [ 2,5% ] Internal costs [ 6,5% ] Placement services, Job retention, Specific deficiency, Awareness raising, Advice to companies, Ergonomics… 2/3 subsidies and grants go to direct support

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph Agefiph supports over the 4 past years Supports to persons ( to employers) Financially

9 octobre 2007/ Results and prospects Results and prospects

9 octobre 2007/ 23 31% exclusively by employing disable persons 35% pay the Agefiph contribution and/or employing disabled persons and/or subcontracting with sheltered workshops 7% sign an agreement with trade unions 27% exclusively contribute to Agefiph 10 years after the 1987 act, how do companies fulfill their employment obligation? 3. Results and prospects

9 octobre 2007/ 24 Disabled persons at work 3. Results and prospects

9 octobre 2007/ A quick overview of Agefiph toolbox Placements by the 108 dedicated case managing teams « Cap emploi » funded by Agefiph

9 octobre 2007/ 26 46,5 45,1 43,9 43,4 42,6 42,2 38,4 37,8 37,2 30,3 28,4 25,4 24,0 23,5 Germany France Portugal Austria Denmark Finland Netherlands UK Luxemburg Belgium Italy Ireland Spain Greece An European comparison of the activity ratio of disabled people Quota + Funds - Quota without funds - No quota in private sector University of Namur, Belgium 3. Results and prospects

9 octobre 2007/ 27 Issues and prospects: economics A continual growth of placements over the past 10 years, despite a slight drop in The jobs that have been created are globally of a lower quality The unemployment of the disabled persons decreases more slowly This concerns more particularly disabled people aged 50 and over The French economy has seen a continuous growth of service and information sectors Increased qualifications standards of jobs A growing number of sectors, (building, tourism, food services) are experiencing difficulty in finding qualified manpower. 3. Results and prospects

9 octobre 2007/ 28 Demographics An increase of retirements, disabled employees being older than the rest of the working population An increase of needs concerning job retention and vocational retraining - age being a factor in the acquisition and aggravation of disabilities - concerns more particularly disabled people aged 50 and + Ageing will cause an increased tension on the labour market - can be an opportunity for disabled persons 3. Results and prospects

9 octobre 2007/ 29 Vocational training concerns low qualified disabled job seekers reaches a balance between -preparatory job training that favours the integration of persons with disabilities - training during the course of employment, in order to prevent the exclusion of disabled workers Strategies directed towards employers Contacting each and every company over a staff of 20 and not employing disabled persons in order to make a diagonsis of its situation Integrated services facilitating the access to information, support, job retention Priorities : adjusting supply and demand... under constraint 3. Results and prospects

9 octobre 2007/ 30 Thank you for listening