Although companies have complete freedom to act in the inclusion of people with disabilities in the labor market, affirmative public policies are absolutely essential to make inclusion full. This is the shared view of the participants of the 2nd Reatech Congress on Inclusion and Accessibility in the Labor Market, opened today (October 4) at São Paulo Expo. The event, which runs until Friday, brings together professionals linked to Inclusion, Diversity, Accessibility, Human Resources, and Corporate Health in organizations from all over the country.
They participated in the opening panel“Debate on Government Policies for Inclusion in the Labor Market and Their Practical Application in Organizations, Renato Pacheco, Consul-General of Sweden in São Paulo, João Batista, Judge of the Regional Labor Court of Campinas, José Silvio da Silva Barreto, Counselor of the State Council for Persons with Disabilities of the State of São Paulo, Flávio Gonzalez, coordinator of Social Inclusion at the Jô Clemente Institute, and Adriano Bandini, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion specialist at Itaú Unibanco. The moderation was conducted by Marcelo Pires, CEO of Consolidar.
The fundamental role of government policies in the inclusion of people with disabilities was highlighted by Gonzalez when explaining the methodology known as Supported Employment, which has been applied in various countries around the world since the 1980s and depends on government support to be executed with quality. The premise of this methodology is to include in order to qualify, which inverts the more common logic that preaches qualifying in order to include.
“For a long time, people with disabilities have been qualified, but they are never adequately included,” states Gonzalez. He explains that, in the Supported Employment model, individuals are first assessed and understood in their individuality before companies are prepared to welcome them.
Bandini emphasizes that this model has its costs and therefore the support of government actions becomes indispensable. He illustrates this by talking about projects in which he works, such as the one that generates inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. Bandini recounts that this is work which, to be effective, requires individualized monitoring, with a frequency that varies from person to person.
“Public policy is fundamental because it also gives direction for companies to act on what needs to be done,” reinforces the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion specialist at Itaú Unibanco. “Laws and regulations provide legal certainty and help guide the actions of the private sector.”
Pacheco brought to the discussion the view of shared responsibility, which is common in Sweden. “The responsibility of caring for people with disabilities does not lie solely with the family. This must be a management shared by society as a whole, including companies, schools, governments, and institutions.”
With practical experience in labor matters, Batista points out that companies need to go beyond simply complying with the law. “Often, we see that the quota law is complied with, but the company does not worry about developing a culture of inclusion. Without this, inclusion does not become effective,” clarifies the appellate judge. “The quota law is important, but more important is building a truly inclusive society.”
Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare disease that affects one in 20,000 people, Barreto recounted his journey, from the obstacles in completing his formal education to the development of his professional career. He highlighted the importance of people with disabilities seeking qualification and also occupying spaces so that their presence reinforces in society the perception that they are fully capable individuals. “Whoever was at college had to see me there at college, whoever was at work had to me see me there at work. It's a way for them to understand that I am also a person.”
