Overview

This Bill mandates the UK Secretary of State to create and present to Parliament proposals aimed at halving the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled individuals within six months of the Act's passage. The proposals must detail specific strategies for achieving this goal, including training initiatives and job coaching support.

Description

The core objective of the Disability Employment (Gap) Bill is to significantly reduce the employment disparity between disabled and non-disabled people. This will be achieved through a multi-pronged approach:

• Proposal Development: The Secretary of State must define "halving the disability employment gap" and outline specific steps to achieve this, focusing on individuals with learning difficulties, autism, mental health problems, visual impairments, and other specified disabilities.
• Training Initiatives: The proposals must include the development of training programs for both disabled individuals to enhance their employability and employers to better support disabled employees in the workplace.
• Job Coaching Provision: The bill mandates ensuring sufficient access to qualified job coaches for disabled people seeking employment.
• Consultation: Extensive consultation is required with disabled people, their representative organizations, employers, devolved administrations (Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland), and the Greater London Authority before finalizing the proposals.
• Best Practice Review: The Secretary of State must review employment gap reduction policies from other EU member states, the European Parliament, and the European Commission before submitting the proposals.

Government Spending

The bill itself doesn't specify any direct government spending figures. The cost will depend on the specific proposals developed by the Secretary of State to meet the bill's objectives. These proposals could involve funding for training programs, job coaching services, and potential employer incentives.

Groups Affected

This bill will directly affect numerous groups:

• Disabled people: The bill aims to improve their employment opportunities and prospects.
• Employers: They will be expected to participate in training and potentially implement adjustments to support disabled employees.
• Job coaches: Increased demand for suitably qualified job coaches is anticipated.
• Training providers: Potential increase in demand for disability-related training programs.
• Devolved administrations (Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland): They are consulted and have a role in implementing the proposals within their respective regions.

Powered by nyModel