1. Workshop on EU Social Policy
EU Anti-discrimination policy:
People with disabilities in labour market
RTP SP 26485
Organised in co-operation with RTP Expert
Druskininkai, Lithuania
March 6-7, 2008
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2. Aim of the workshop:
The main aim of the workshop is to provide with the theoretical and practical information
on EU law, Social Policy Aquis of anti-discrimination and human rights. The workshop will
focus on main aspects of anti-discrimination, human rights and more precisely on aspects of
the disabled people professional rehabilitation and reintegration to the labour market.
During the seminar the main legislation will be addressed to the main EU laws, which
regulates Anti-discrimination: Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000
(establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation).
Employment Equality Directive: Council Directive European Convention on Human
Rights.
The main objectives of the workshop:
- To introduce content of EU Directives on anti-discrimination and Human rights;
- To raise sensitivity for different forms of discrimination of the disabled and promote zero
tolerance for it;
- To discuss issues of increasing tolerance in Lithuanian society;
- To present the disabled people professional rehabilitation cycle and possibilities to return
to labour market.
Professional rehabilitation services in European Union are a compound part of a
Professional integration system, closely interacting with social services, labour market,
medicine and educational systems. Government of Lithuanian Republic states, that in the
country act only single professional rehabilitation units – evaluation of professional skills,
qualification provision, placement and etc., yet one system of professional rehabilitation
services, that could secure working skills acquisition by the disabled, re-creation and effective
entrenchment on the labour market, is still not created. On this base, the main task of the
workshop – to initiate interdepartmental / interinstitutional discussion on the main issues
for the creation of the unified professional rehabilitation and integration to labour market
system.
Participants: Civil servants, decision makers, representatives from regional governments;
social services, labour market exchange offices, medicine and educational systems,
employers; employees; representatives of professional unions; gender equality experts; NGO
representatives and others. The planned number of participants is about 50. Place of
workshop – Druskininkai (Southern part of Lithuania).
The participants will be able to get theoretical and practical view and recommendations on
the topic in the European Community level. Lithuanian experts will make a survey on the
situation in Lithuania and regions, implementation of EU legislation and other national law
covering the topic. The juridical and practical information on specific cases will be provided.
The main goals achieved at the end of the event would be the formulation of the main
guidelines for effective implementation of EU directives in Lithuania, excluded problematic
spheres for creation a unified professional rehabilitation and integration to labour market
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3. system and the methods of solutions. The workshop will enable participants to acquire
technical and practical experience on legal, social, psychological, educational and other
aspects related to anti-discrimination and human rights violations, disabled people
professional rehabilitation and integration to labour market. The workshop will be effective
and actual ending European year 2007 of Equal Opportunities for All, which will stress the
importance of this topic, highlight the results achieved and, finally, show the advantages of
diversity for the economy and society of Europe.
The most appropriate format to achieve the aim of the event is an interactive workshop.
The EU experts are needed firstly to give a broad view on the EU anti-discrimination and
human rights policy strategy, EU legislation and implementation (practical) aspects in their
countries. Case studies will be presented and discussed.
This meeting is being organised by the
Technical Assistance Information Exchange Unit
of the European Commission
CHAR 05/97, B - 1049 Brussels
Telephone: +32-2-296 73 07, +32-2-296 73 08, Fax: +32-2-296 68 40
Web site http://taiex.be
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4. 6 of March, 2008
Chair and rapporteur : Mrs. Justina Jakstiene, RTP Expert, Lithuania
09:00 Registration with coffee
09:30 Welcome address and opening of the workshop
Ms. Justina Jakstiene, RTP Expert, Lithuania
09:50 Introduction to TAIEX and the Regional Training Programme (RTP)
Ms. Justina Jakstiene, RTP Expert, Lithuania
10:10 Open method of Co-ordination in EU.
Ms. Justina Jakstiene, RTP Expert, Lithuania
10:40 Community Framework strategy on Anti-discrimination policy: Disabled people
and labour market. Directive 2000/78/EC.
Ms Lydia Wilton, Expert- United Kingdom
11:20 Coffee Break
11.35 EU Directives on Anti-discrimination of disabled people and Lithuanian law.
Representative from the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
12:10 Disability and labour market.
Dr. Boguslavas Gruzevskis, Institute of Labour and Social Research
13:00 Lunch
14:00 The role of professional rehabilitation in the process of social rehabilitation of
people with disabilities
Ms. Edita Satiene, Head of the rehabilitation centre “Valakupiai”
14:40 Professional rehabilitation and return to labour market: EU Memberstate
experience.
Mr Miguel Mares Garces – Fundacion Comunidad Valencia – Spain
15:20 Coffee Break
15:35 Professional rehabilitation and return to labour market: EU Member State
experience.
Mr. John Collins, Supported Employment Centre, South Tipperary
16:00 Presentation of Film on disability and Anti-discrimination issues in labour
market “Professional rehabilitation – new possibilities for disabled people
in Lithuania”. Discussions.
16:40 Conclusions of Day 1 and introduction to Day 2
Ms Justina Jakstiene, RTP Expert, Lithuania
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5. 17:00 Closure of Day 1
7 of March, 2008
09:00 Registration
09:30 Opening of Day 2
Mrs Justina Jakstiene, RTP Expert, Lithuania
09:45 Evaluation of disability and working capacities. Setting main demands of
professional rehabilitation and special services.
Representative from the Division for evaluation of disability and working
capacities under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour
10:30 EU Structural Funds support for disabled people professional rehabilitation.
Results gained in 2004-2006 Financial period. Planning for 2007-2013 Financial
period
Representative from the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
11:10 Coffee break
11.25 Professional rehabilitation and return to labour market: EU Memberstate
experience.
Ms Lydia Wilton, Expert - United Kingdom
Professional rehabilitation and integration to labour market – role of National
Labour Exchange Office.
12:50
Representative from the National labour Exchange office.
13:30 Lunch
14:30 Work in groups:
Group sessions on the following topics:
I. Professional rehabilitation – main procedures and problems.
Moderated by (to be confirmed)
II. Reintegration to the labour market - main procedures and problems
Moderated by (to be confirmed)
16:00 Presentations of the main outcomes of work in group.
Panel discussion – Question and Answers.
Chair, speakers, participants
16.30 Coffee Break
16:45 Feedbacks of the EU experts. Recommendations.
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6. Questions and Answers
Chair, speakers, participants
17.00 Conclusions and identification of future need for assistance
17:15 Closing of the workshop
Mrs Justina Jakstiene, RTP Expert, Lithuania
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