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Policy E-Bulletins

We send out a regular e-bulletin covering policy developments around disability, employment and independent living. Our latest bulletin came out on 27th April 2012 and includes our position on REMPLOY factory closures.

An article from our latest policy bulletin is below (27.04.12). The full bulletin can be found at: Issue 58 E-Bulletin (Rich Text). Our older bulletins are at the bottom of this page.

Breakthrough UK's Position on the REMPLOY Factory Closures

Current discussions about REMPLOY tend to follow two approaches: the first one is that the government is castigated for targeting disabled people for job losses - disabled people with little chance of finding future work either because of the economic situation, because of employer reluctance, or because they are 'too disabled' to survive in open employment.

The second approach is that REMPLOY factories provide segregated employment, which is not an appropriate solution to the unemployment that disabled people experience, nor does it support people towards independence or foster their opportunity to be responsible citizens.

For more than forty years the disabled peoples' movement has argued in favour of an end to segregated employment, demanding better educational opportunities, better training, and better career progression for disabled people. It is ironic now to see some disabled peoples' organisations making the case for keeping REMPLOY factories open: where is the analysis, we wonder, where is the application of the social model? Because a lot of disabled people think REMPLOY factories should remain open, does that make it the right option?

Breakthrough was originally part-funded by the closure of a segregated employment project, after full consultation with disabled people in Manchester. Whilst we do not support the enforced loss of livelihood for disabled people, neither do we believe that segregated employment should continue. We do believe that no disabled person should start employment at REMPLOY from now on; that the government should strongly consider how existing factories can be handed over to the control of disabled people; that support to develop them into successful businesses should be provided; and that support for current REMPLOY staff at threat should be exemplary. Above all, we believe there should be more debate about these issues with disabled people and their own organisations.

For more information, please contact the Policy and Research Assistant.

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Policy E-Bulletins

We send out a regular e-bulletin covering policy developments around disability, employment and independent living. Our latest bulletin came out on 27th April 2012 and includes our position on REMPLOY factory closures.

Breakthrough UK's Position on the REMPLOY Factory Closures

2012 E-Bulletins

2011 E-Bulletins

2010 E-Bulletins

2009 E-Bulletins

2008 E-Bulletins