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Press Releases

Co-production: Working together to create inclusive employment opportunities!

On Tuesday 30st January EASPD and its partners in the Taskforce “Support Services of Tomorrow” (EDF, COFACE Families-Europe, ENIL, Inclusion Europe and MHE-SME) cohosted the event ‘Co-producing employment initiatives for young persons with disabilities and mental health problems’ alongside MEP Brando Benifei. The event engaged MEPs, Commission officials, social service providers, employers, persons with disabilities as well as civil society to share best practices and discuss how we can empower all stakeholders in the design, development and delivery of inclusive employment practices.

EU needs to boost social infrastructure investment, new report says.

On the 23rd January, the High-Level Taskforce on Investing in Social Infrastructure in Europe presented their report on how to boost investment in healthcare, long-term care, education and social housing in the European Union. Highlighting important underinvestment in these areas, the high-level taskforce -led by former President of the European Commission Romano Prodi- recommends practical steps the European Union and relevant stakeholders should take to meet the funding gap.

Europe needs a Social Infrastructure Agenda, say social services AND investors.

The European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) launched earlier this week its latest report “Investing in Social Care and Support, a European Imperative” in a Conference organised with the European Policy Centre. The message was clear: the European Union must develop a European Strategy for Quality Social Infrastructure. The Strategy would include a fund dedicated to the needs of the social sectors, strengthen the capacity of social service providers and investors to build a pipeline of quality projects and support the exchange of quality social infrastructure investment standards.

 

Failure of Working Time Directive in Social Care & Support Services: Actions needed

The implementation of EU Working Time Directive in the sector of social care and support services for persons with disabilities is facing critical challenges. Provision of personalized and community-based support requires flexible working patterns for staff working in the sector. To ensure this flexibility, service providers, who often operate under severe financial constraints, have no choice but to circumvent the Directive. This has direct consequences on the quality of services and working conditions. In order to make the Directive work in social care and support, it has to be adapted to the needs of the sector.

EASPD launches the debate on how the Sustainable Development Goals can support inclusive communities for persons with disabilities.

During the EASPD international conference taking place in Podgorica, Montenegro, on the 26-27 October, 170 professionals from Europe and beyond gathered to debate around Sustainable Development Goals and their link to the realisation of supportive and inclusive communities. The event was organised in cooperation with the  Petrović Njegoš Foundation, the Centre de la Gabrielle and Egart.

Launch of the Federation of European Social Employers

The Federation of European Social Employers (FESE) was set-up and launched last Friday in Brussels. FESE will aim to take part in European Social Dialogue, represent social services Employers towards the European institutions and contribute to a more social and inclusive Europe. The European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) has been actively engaged in helping national Employers set-up FESE over the past few years and fully welcomes the Federation’s creation. 

Romanian government neglects persons with disabilities’ employment rights to meet EU fiscal obligations

In view of meeting the EU’s strict fiscal obligations, the Romanian government has launched an emergency decree which risks bankrupting hundreds of social economy enterprises, workshops and additional social services who provide essential work-related opportunities for persons with disabilities. EASPD calls on the Romanian government to revise this decree and delay its entry into force. Given the European Commission’s priority of tackling the high levels of unemployment of persons with disabilities (Annual Growth Survey 2017), EASPD also calls on the European Commission to request such revision from the Romanian authorities.
 

Carrefour Spain and ACCESS Integrationsbegleitung (Germany) are the winners of Employment for All Awards 2017.

Carrefour Spain and ACCESS Integrationsbegleitung (Germany) are the winners of the “Employment for All Awards”, which were announced on the 15th June 2017 in Belfast during the gala dinner of the 1st World Conference on Supported Employment  “Employment for All -  A Global Perspective” Conference. The Employment for All Awards recognise the most promising practices towards full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market. This third instalment received over 60 applications from all across Europe.

EASPD launches new website to help social sector get better loans

Today, the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) launches a website to help social service providers get better loans through the EU Investment Plan and the European Investment Bank. The new website -www.socialinvestment.eu- provides a simple, yet detailed overview of the Plan itself, the different options available, tips and success stories. It also provides useful information for investors and public authorities willing to invest in the social services sector.  

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