On 5th November, Alexandre Bloxs, EUD Policy Manager, participated in the annual Public Employment Services (PES) Stakeholder Network meeting, organised by the European Commission. The meeting convened representatives of Public Employment Services from across the European Union to exchange best practices and evaluate strategies for improving employment outcomes within the framework of the EU’s ambitious target: achieving 78% employment among the working-age population by 2030.
The PES network plays a crucial role in shaping inclusive employment strategies. Each of the 27 EU Member States has a dedicated employment agency working to provide support and facilitate recruitment. The annual meeting serves as a platform for stakeholders to discuss challenges, successes, and innovative solutions in employment.
One of the key highlights of the meeting was a roundtable discussion on recruitment strategies for persons with disabilities. EUD actively participated, sharing the unique perspective of deaf people and emphasising the barriers they face when accessing fair and inclusive labour markets in their national sign language.
Employment for Deaf People in the National Sign Language
During the discussion, Alexandre highlighted that a major barrier remains the lack of accessibility to national sign language during training and skill-development programmes. While such training is essential for enhancing employability, the absence of government-funded professional national sign language interpreters often forces deaf people to abandon these opportunities. This perpetuates a cycle of unemployment, reliance on disability benefits, and exclusion from the labour market.
EUD also emphasised the importance of involving persons with disabilities in the planning and implementation of government-funded projects and schemes aimed at improving their employability. Too often, these programmes are designed without consultation or input from the deaf community and other representative organisations, undermining the effectiveness and relevance of these initiatives.
Collaboration as a Key to Inclusion
EUD also called for stronger collaboration between governments, Public Employment Services, and representative organisations of persons with disabilities, such as National Associations of the Deaf and umbrella organisations of persons with disabilities. Such partnerships ensure that programmes and policies are inclusive, practical, and effective in addressing the specific requirements of persons with disabilities, including deaf people.
EUD remains dedicated to advocating for the rights of deaf people and ensuring their inclusion in all aspects of the labour market through continued engagement with the European Commission and other stakeholders.
Stay tuned for further updates on our advocacy efforts and our participation in initiatives promoting full employment for deaf people in the EU.
