CTU MEDIA RELEASE
21 March 2007

Milestone for Workers with Disabilities

“The CTU supports a focus on workers’ abilities, not disabilities, and blanket assumptions that all sheltered workshop participants should be exempt from minimum employment entitlements were discriminatory and outdated,” CTU secretary Carol Beaumont said today.

Parliament tonight passed the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (DPEP) Act Repeal Bill. The CTU supported the Bill and submitted in favour of it at select committee.

"The previous law disadvantaged workers with disabilities, it diminished their human rights and it reflected attitudes towards disability which are unacceptable.”

“The CTU supports the work of people with disabilities and their supporters through groups such as DPA, IHC, CCS and People First who have consistently advocated for the workplace rights of workers with disabilities.”

“The CTU will continue to work with these groups and the Department of Labour regarding implementation of a transparent and fair process around any exemptions to the law, which needs to include union advocacy and representation.”

“Today’s repeal has been long signalled and is welcome. We acknowledge those employers who have already begun making changes to ensure they are ready to operate in the new environment.”

ENDS