Summary paragraph: Breakthrough UK has expressed its support for the Government's planned review of Remploy's services - as long as the employees' futures are safeguarded. Members of Breakthrough UK's Executive team are available for media interview.
DISABLED people's organisation Breakthrough UK has backed controversial plans to shut 36 Remploy factories - while insisting that the Government must "safeguard" employees' futures.
The Manchester-headquartered organisation believes that current moves to keep the factories open fail to address the many issues surrounding the "outdated sheltered employment model" that Remploy represents.
Breakthrough UK has been at the cutting edge of tackling discrimination and removing barriers to disabled people's representation in society by promoting both employment and independence for 15 years.
The organisation has decided to speak out publically in favour of the Government's proposals after being asked to put its name to campaigns to reverse these plans.
The Government announced in March that the 36 factories, which provide sheltered employment for 1,500 disabled people, would close by the autumn unless they were taken over.
The announcement came in response to a recent review which has found that the average subsidy for each job in a Remploy factory was £25,000, and that the money could achieve more if spent helping disabled people find and retain jobs in the mainstream labour market.
The future of Remploy's remaining 18 factories, considered potentially viable, is currently being reviewed.
Breakthrough UK's Acting Chief Executive Michele Scattergood said: "We believe that reform is required so that the individual requirements of disabled people can continue to be met according to their needs in the 21st Century.
"The sheltered employment model is an out of date concept which potentially isolates people by segregating them and preventing their integration into the wider world of work.
"We believe that the Government's proposals will ultimately help promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace - but the new Remploy jobseekers must get the support they need into the jobs they want."
In response to the Government's proposals to close the 36 Remploy factories, a report produced by Breakthrough UK makes four key recommendations:
·A staged closure of the factories and/or;
·Consider handing the factories over to "user led organisations" with realistic investment, support and timeframes to establish sustainable businesses and/or;
·All staff to move to new jobs, with appropriate support, training and qualifications guaranteed;
·Measures to ensure that no-one is made unemployed as a result of the closures.
Michele Scattergood continues: "There needs to be a negotiated solution which safeguards Remploy workers and remains true to the principles of the disabled people's movement.
"While Breakthrough UK is unable to support a call to keep the Remploy factories open, we are keen to join with organisations to campaign for a good outcome, for the Remploy workers in particular and for the wider population of disabled people in general.
"This is a chance for the disabled people's movement to fit the Remploy issue into a long term strategy which addresses the discriminatory policies and practices that keep disabled people's employment levels so low - currently only 48% of disabled people are in work compared with 78% of non-disabled people."
For further information or to speak to one of the members of Breakthrough UK's Executive team who contributed to the report please contact Michele Scattergood on 07800 557252.
