Organisation backs Remploy closures

Breakthrough UK has backed controversial plans to shut 36 Remploy factories – while insisting that the government must “safeguard” employees’ futures.

The Manchester-headquartered disabled people’s organisation believes that current moves to keep the factories open fail to address the many issues surrounding the “outdated sheltered employment model” that Remploy represents.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 wanted to speak out in favour of the government’s proposals after being asked to put its name to campaigns to reverse these plans.

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“The sheltered employment model is an out of date concept which potentially isolates people by segregating them and preventing their integration into the wider world of work.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.”

Michele Scattergood said: “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.”