MES of the ILO increase their disability expertise in Shanghai

In total, 25 organizations participated in the activity, including several local branches of company members of the ILO Global Business and Disability Network, e.g. Accenture, IBM, LOréal, Michelin and Novartis. They increased their knowledge and expertise on how to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace. Shanghai-based employment service providers for persons with disabilities joined the workshop, too.

In the afternoon of the first day, participants discussed the existing barriers in the workplace and how to remove these barriers, so persons with disabilities can make use of their full professional potential. The provision of reasonable accommodations, also called reasonable adjustments, was one of the priority topics that were discussed.

In the morning of the second day, a seminar on inclusive employment was held. ZPLI had invited a professor of disability law from the East China University who presented disability employment legislation to the seminar participants. Further, the employment vice-director of the Shanghai Disabled Persons Federation presented the regional disability employment policy of Shanghai, focusing on tax discounts, the use of the job security fund and other incentives to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market.

In the afternoon, IBM and LOréal shared their experiences in hiring persons with disabilities. Zhijun Fu, Director General of ZPLI shared his experience working for the ILO Global Business and Disability Network at ILO headquarters in 2016, presented the tasks and aims of the Network, particularly with regard to establishing national business and disability networks in developing countries.Drawing on this successful event, the ZPLI aims to establish a business and disability network on the municipal level, i.e. a Shanghai Business and Disability Network.