Legislation for Promoting Inclusive Employment

A man using a power wheelchair works at a desk with a computer in an office. The office appears to have an open layout with wide walkways. A non-disabled worker is at the next computer station behind him.

In both developed and developing countries, people with disabilities are less likely to be employed than people without disabilities. Lack of access to employment is part of why people with disabilities are at high risk of poverty. Increasing the employment rates of people with disabilities is a key strategy to reducing poverty.

In some countries, it may be necessary to change laws or policies to promote more employment of workers with disabilities. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has produced several publications that can help guide users in developing effective legislation. Most are targeted either at policymakers and legislators or at the educators and trainers who train them. But some can also be used by program managers and others considering projects and programs meant to increase employment among people with disabilities. And some can be used by advocates who are promoting better legislation or programs for increasing employment rates of workers with disabilities.

Inclusion of People with Disabilities in National Employment Policies

This brief publication is designed to provide step-by-step support in effectively including women and men with disabilities in the development of National Employment Policy (NEP). It is designed to be used in conjunction with the more detailed Guide for the Formulation of National Employment Policies and with the more gender-specific Resource Guide on Gender Issues in Employment and Labour Market Policies (both listed below). It also links to case studies of how various countries have strengthened their national employment policies to create more employment opportunities for workers with disabilities.

Guide for the Formulation of National Employment Policies

This Guide provides a road map and framework for developing a coherent and integrated national employment policy through policy dialogue. It can be an essential component of the capacity-building strategy for Governments (Ministries of Labour, Finance, Planning, Economy, and others), Employers and Workers’ organizations and all those concerned with employment. It can be used as a stand-alone resource or accompanied by training activities and workshops. Use in conjunction with more disability-specific tools from the ILO to ensure disability inclusion, including with the publication Inclusion of People with Disabilities in National Employment Policies (described above).

Resource Guide on Gender Issues in Employment and Labour Market Policies

This guide is meant to assist policy makers and other users in integrating gender into formulating, monitoring, and evaluating employment policies. Use in conjunction with publications including Guide for the Formulation of National Employment Policies and Inclusion of People with Disabilities in National Employment Policies.

Achieving Equal Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities through Legislation

Two companion publications sharing this title can be used together to assist educators, trainers, policymakers and legislators.

  • Educators and trainers can use the Education and Training Guide to assist them in training policy makers, legislators, people with disabilities, advocates, and other key stakeholders in creating better laws for workers with disabilities.
  • Policymakers and legislators can use the Guidelines to help them in reviewing existing laws, and developing new laws, relevant to women and men with disabilities. The Guidelines can also help policymakers learn key concepts used in international standards and review examples of law and practice used around the world.

Chapter 8: Work and Employment in World Report on Disability

This chapter, part of a larger publication on the global situation of people with disabilities, gives an overview of the challenges that people with disabilities confront in the workforce. It also gives a broad overview of some of the many strategies that different countries have tried to increase employment rates. The document summarizes what is known about which strategies are most effective and why. These strategies include both policy and legislative approaches and also programs and activities.