Help firms to employ disabled, Brown told
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Gordon Brown will today come under pressure to help small firms employ disabled workers, as industry groups make their Budget submissions to the government. At a meeting with the chancellor, the British Chambers of Commerce will call for the government to extend its Access to Work Scheme, which helps firms with the costs of hiring employees with disabilities. From 2004, the Disability Discrimination Act will mean that companies have to provide equal employment opportunities to disabled workers. Describing the Access to Work scheme as the government’s “best kept secret”, the BCC says that if firms do not continue to receive financial help with measures such as employing sign language interpreters and installing wheelchair ramps, the costs to small businesses of complying with the law will be enormous. The Access to Work scheme, administered by the Employment Service, provides grants of up to 100% for the changes firms need to make to employ disabled workers. The BCC fears it may expire in 2004 and is calling on the government to beef it up and to make sure firms are better informed about the help available. They believe the scheme should be left in place once the Disability Discrimination Act becomes law. More : guardian.co.uk |