A project that will help reduce employment discrimination against people with special needs

Aiming to reduce discrimination in workplaces and include people with special needs in the labour market, Valmiera Development Agency started the Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027 project “Stronger Together towards a more inclusive labour market” in May. From June 17th to 18th, a kick-off meeting with all the project partners took place in Valmiera, during which the partners discussed the activities planned for the project, the implementation schedule and achievable results.

The Stronger Together project aims to create a more inclusive labour market by encouraging employers to implement anti-discrimination policies in their organizations and ensuring the employment of people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs. Valmiera Development Agency will implement the project with the Latvian Samaritans Association and the Eastern Gotland Economic Association (Coompanion Östergötland Ekonomisk Förening) in Sweden.

“The labour market increasingly lacks highly qualified specialists and specialists in the engineering field as well as a low-skilled workforce. Although employers are gradually becoming more open to hiring people with special needs, additional motivational measures, education of employers, encouragement, and advisory support are needed. With experienced partners in Latvia and Sweden, we will pilot a new service, “Employee as a service”. The service will pave the way for implementing anti-discrimination policies in companies and organizations, reduce concerns and stereotypes and ensure employment of people with special needs,” says Ilze Eglāja, Valmiera Development Agency Head of the Board.

The project addresses several challenges:

1. The labour market has a low employment rate for people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs.
2. Employers lack knowledge and have stereotypes and concerns about the employment of people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs.
3. There is an imbalance in the labour market, where capable individuals with special needs are ready to work. However, employers’ demand still needs to be significantly higher.
4. There is a lack of employment services for people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs.

Andris Bērziņš, Director of the Samaritan Association of Latvia: “There are enough stereotypes about the employment of people with special needs in Latvian society and among employers. On the other hand, there are misunderstandings and possibly painful experiences in the past from the perspective of people with special needs. There is no single unique recipe, but we can learn from many positive experiences. We know that by taking a few steps towards each other, employers can get great, loyal and dedicated employees and people with disabilities can gain independence, self-confidence and the opportunity to be in charge of their own lives. We know the path is not easy, but we are confident that we can be a bridge to help both. We have found ways to help and solve the situation with the partners of the Stronger Together project, so we are happy to be part of the project team.”

Planned activities and results of the project:

1. A guide for employers on implementing anti-discrimination policies within their organizations will be developed. The guide will also offer practical templates for anti-discrimination policy documents;
2. A training programme will be developed and implemented for employers who want to employ people with intellectual disabilities. At least 60 employers from Latvia and Sweden will participate in the training;
3. A training programme will be developed and implemented for people with intellectual disabilities who want to enter the labour market. At least 60 people from Latvia and Sweden will participate in the training;
4. As a result of the project activities, at least 40 Latvian and Swedish employers will apply an anti-discrimination policy, ensuring the employment of people with intellectual disabilities or other special needs;
5. The project’s results, including creating and piloting a new social entrepreneurship service called “Employee as a service,” will inspire and provide a practical solution for other employers, employers’ organizations, and municipalities in the Central Baltic Sea Region.

Camilla Carlsson, Executive Director of the Eastern Gotland Economic Association: “Given the ageing of society and the ever-increasing demand for workers in various fields in the labour market, every member of society, considering their abilities and skills, should have the opportunity to join the labour market. Employers and employees can grow when everyone has opportunities to contribute to economic development. This is precisely the task of the Stronger Together project: to support employers in ensuring employment for people with special needs. The project activities will help grow both employers and employees and promote economic development in the region by creating opportunities for those members of society who have found it challenging to enter the labour market.”

The “Stronger Together” project will be implemented until April 2027 under the Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027 within the “Improved employment opportunities in the labour market” sub-programme. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.