Access to employment for people with disabilities is in the spotlight. This November 21 is not a day like any other, it’s Duoday. This system from Ireland aims to include people affected by disabilities in the world of work. One day a year, an employer makes one or more of its employees available as volunteers to form a duo with an “intern”.
The initiative is gaining ground. In 2023, nearly 27,000 duos will have been formed in France. Almost 7,000 more than in 2022. “It’s a great success. This day silences prejudices and helps convince employers that people with disabilities have talents,” declares Christian Ploton, president of the Fund Management Association for the Professional Integration of Disabled People (Agefiph). These prejudices, in addition to the lack of layout of the premises, are the main obstacles to the employment of this population which is twice as affected by unemployment (12%) as the rest of the population (7.4%).
By clicking on“I accept”you accept the deposit of cookies by external services and will thus have access to the content of our partners.
I accept
And to better pay 20 Minutes, do not hesitate to accept all cookies, even for one day only, via our button“I accept for today” in the banner below.
More information on the Cookie management policy page
Inclusion as a talent engine
Legislation has driven businesses to increase inclusion. Since the end of the 1980s, structures with more than 20 employees have been required to include at least 6% disabled workers in their workforce. Also, since the law of May 22, 2019, there is now a disability representative in all structures employing more than 250 employees. And the growing success of Duoday is evidence of a certain desire. “The gap between the unemployment rate of people with disabilities and that of the rest of the population is lower than it has ever been,” observes Christian Ploton. But that in no way removes the issues. »
Agefiph to the rescue
Florian Franceschilli, disability project manager for the Actual group, notes that there is “some improvement” in relation to the issue of disability. But he believes that the legislative apparatus should not be the only actor in favor of inclusion. Companies must get their hands dirty, in their own interest above all: “CSR values (Editor's note: corporate social responsibility) are vectors of skills and loyalty within their company. More and more employees are choosing their job for the meaning and no longer for the salary. An employee who is valued in his mission will necessarily be supported in his choice. »
On the issue of employment for disabled people, Agefiph serves as a reference in France. It offers training and comprehensive assistance to companies wishing to welcome employees with disabilities. “We will offer a complete diagnosis and then support them in the construction of their disability policy, with the setting of concrete actions and objectives,” explains its president. Thus, companies have concrete means of action to influence their workforce. In fact, the action of civil society and employers is rather encouraging. The 2025 finance bill, which plans to cut Agefiph's budget by 100 million euros, is much less so.
