Disability campaigners welcome reforms
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Disability rights campaigners have welcomed government plans to extend the employment rights of disabled people as the most significant reforms since the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation 30 years ago. Under the proposals the police, fire fighters and prison officers would no longer be exempt from the Disability Discrimination Act. Cancer patients would also gain new rights to prevent employers from sacking them simply because of their illness. Minister for disabled people Margaret Hodge said the new measures would “extend the rights of over 600,000 disabled people already in jobs and cover nearly seven million jobs previously excluded from the act”. Bert Massie, chairman of the disability rights commission said: “This is the most significant programme of reforms since disability rights legislation was first introduced 30 years ago. Once these measures are implemented we will all be living in a much fairer and inclusive society. More : guardian.co.uk |