Quota Application in the Employment of Disabled People: A Current View of European Union Countries

Abstract

In recent years, policies promoting the employment of persons with disabilities have gained increasing importance worldwide. Employment is a valuable opportunity to promote the integration of persons with disabilities in society, while they encounter signficant barriers in all aspects of social life, including employment, where they are subject to exclusion and discrimination. At this point, the importance of social policies cannot be denied in improving problem areas related to disadvantaged groups. The most common practice for the employment of disabled people is the quota system. In this sense, the examination of good practices in other countries would be crucial to develop similar practices in Turkey. The prevalence of notable measures and joint initiatives at the European Union (EU) requires a closer look into the EU member states with a view to assessing employment policies and developing policy recommendations. This study aims to examine the quota initiatives of the EU member states and to present policy recommendations through a detailed discussion of quota practices in these countries. To increase the employment rate of persons with disabilities in both quantity and quality, the quota practices need to be complemented with anti-discrimination policies, and supported by education, training and rehabilitation programmes.

Keywords

• European Union
• social policy
• disability employment
• quota system

Engelli İstihdamında Kota Uygulaması: Avrupa Birliği Ülkelerine Güncel Bir Bakış

Abstract

Son yıllarda dünya genelinde engelli istihdam politikaları büyük bir önem kazanmıştır. İstihdam, engelli bireylerin topluma entegrasyonunun sağlanması için değerli bir fırsattır, ancak engelli bireyler her alanda olduğu gibi istihdam alanında da önemli engellerle karşılaşmakta, önyargılar, dışlanma ve ayrımcılığa maruz kalmaktadırlar. Bu noktada dezavantajlı gruplara ilişkin sorun alanlarında iyileştirmeler yapılması amacıyla uygulanması yönüyle sosyal politikaların önemi yadsınamaz. Engelli istihdamına yönelik en yaygın uygulama ise kota sistemidir. Bu anlamda dünyadaki başarılı örneklerin incelenmesi, Türkiye için benzer uygulamaların geliştirilebilmesi için önem taşımaktadır. Avrupa Birliği’nde (AB) engelli bireylerin topluma katılımı ve istihdamı yönünde dikkate değer uygulamaların ve ortak çalışmaların bulunması, engelli istihdam politikalarının değerlendirilmesi ve politika önerileri üretilmesi açısından AB ülkelerinin mercek altına alınmasını gerektirmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Avrupa Birliği üye ülkelerinin kota uygulaması pratiklerini incelemek ve kota uygulamasının bu ülkelerdeki durumunun tartışılması yolu ile politika önerileri sunmaktır. Kota uygulaması tüm ülkeler için geçerli standart özelliklere sahip bir uygulama önerisi olmaktan çok, ülkeye özgü bir planlama dahilinde kullanılması düşünülebilecek bir sistem önerisi olarak değerlendirilebilir. Engelli istihdamının hem nicelik hem de nitelik açısından artırılması için kota uygulamasının ayrımcılık karşıtı tamamlayıcı politikalarla desteklenmesi, ayrıca eğitim ve rehabilitasyon programlarından sıklıkla yararlanılması faydalı olacaktır.

Keywords

• Avrupa Birliği
• sosyal politika
• engelli istihdamı
• kota sistemi

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