Urgent action needed to break down barriers for disabled
Jenny Rathbone led a debate on the Senedd equality committee's report on tackling the disability employment gap, which found too many people face unnecessary barriers.
The gap, which is the difference of employment rates between disabled and non-disabled people, stands at 31 per cent in Wales and has consistently been higher than elsewhere in Britain.
Ms Rathbone said: 'We are running out of time. We must get on with it now. This is not about pay slips and productivity – it is about independence, dignity, equality of opportunity and what matters so much to the wellbeing of the individual and of society as a whole.'
The Labour politician, who chairs the equality and social justice committee, told the Senedd: 'We need action this day and we need a wrecking ball to the barriers.'
Conservative Altaf Hussain warned that 26 per cent of employed disabled people have not received any reasonable adjustments despite the right being enshrined in the Equality Act 2010.
He pointed to research showing the average cost of adjustments was £75, saying: 'We know conclusively it's not expensive to treat disabled people properly but barriers, sadly, still exist.'
Plaid Cymru's Sioned Williams warned UK ministers' proposals to cut benefits, including personal independence payment, will have a 'cataclysmic' impact on disabled people.
She said: 'The specific barriers that disabled people face in accessing employment, identified in our report, must be addressed before changes to eligibility and support for disabled people are implemented.'
Responding to the debate on June 11, Jane Hutt said ensuring disabled people can participate fully in society is one of the key values of the Welsh Government.
She said: 'We want an inclusive approach to employment that supports disabled people to have equitable access to fulfilling and fair work.'
Wales' social justice secretary highlighted an ongoing consultation on a draft 10-year disability rights plan which has been criticised for lacking concrete targets.
Pressed for a timeline on incorporating the UN convention, which was an unambiguous commitment in Labour's 2021 manifesto, Ms Hutt did not provide any such timeframe.
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