"Passerelles 09" - programme in the Ariege department of France to encourage the integration of handicapped workers
Abstract
Since 1992, the Ariege-Pyrenees Employers' Union has initiated, in the Ariege department, an action entitled "Passerelles 09" ("Footbridges 09"), to encourage the integration or rehabilitation of handicapped workers. This action, carried out in partnership with numerous local players, both public and private, involves two aspects:
- information - promotion of enterprises' awareness of their obligations regarding the hiring of handicapped employees and the aids from which they can benefit;
- aids to keep on in a different position employees declared unfit for their work station.
Since its launching, "Passerelles 09" has enabled more than 70 handicapped workers to be hired and 145 unfit employees to be kept in their job or at a new work station.
Background to the Case
The action carried out by "Passerelles 09" is based on the legislation in force in France to promote employment of handicapped people, and in particular:
- the Act of 10 July 1987 to encourage the integration of handicapped workers;
- the Act of 31 December 1992 on keeping handicapped people in their job or at a new work station.
The first of these acts provides that enterprises with over 20 employees should employ a quota of 6 percent of handicapped workers in their workforce. Enterprises can accomplish this obligation
- by hiring handicapped people;
- by signing subcontracting agreements with protected workshops or centres for aid through work;
- or by paying an annual contribution to the Management Fund for integration of the handicapped.
The Act of 1992, for its part, made it obligatory for the employer to place in a new position or lay off within a deadline of one month employees recognised as unfit by the industrial doctor.
By launching the "Passerelles 09" operation, the Ariege-Pyrenees employers' union has set itself the task of promoting and coordinating all actions which could encourage the full application of these two laws. It is because they are convinced of the social role that should be played by the enterprise - alongside its economic role - that the managers of the Employers' Union undertook this programme of action.
"Passerelles 09" was implemented with the assistance of and financing provided by the association managing the fund for integration of handicapped people (AGEFIPH).
An official representative and an assistant work full-time for "Passerelles 09"; their role is to inform the enterprises in the region ("department") of the whole system, help them choose the appropriate solution for their situation, and coordinate the action of the various partners. In addition to the Ariege-Pyrenees employers' union, "Passerelles 09" involves six other organisations, both public and private, which make their personnel or resources available to help with integration or rehabilitation projects.
Aims and Objectives of the Case
The primary objective of "Passerelles 09" is to inform and promote awareness among the enterprises in the Ariege department of the legislation in force regarding the integration of handicapped workers and the rehabilitation of employees declared unfit. This action has two essential aims:
- Help the enterprises accomplish their role in society by integrating handicapped workers into their workforce or through rehabilitation of unfit employees;
- Provide enterprises with the best conditions to enable them to hire handicapped people or retain them in their jobs.
The action targets the enterprises established in the Ariege department, especially those employing over 20 employees (since it is they who are concerned by the obligation to hire handicapped workers).
The ultimate beneficiaries of the action are the handicapped workers who find a job and the employees retained at the work station or in a new position.
Nature of the Action
Initiative
The "Passerelles 09" project dates back to 1992. At that time, there was in France much talk of the "enterprise citoyenne" ("citizen firm"), by which is meant that the role of the enterprise is not merely to produce wealth, but that it should also take an interest in the life of the society which surrounds it. Now, in the life of society, there is one category of the public which faces particular difficulties for employment: handicapped workers.
"Passerelles 09" was initially set up informally through contacts with the main partners, AGEFIPH, EPSR and DDERFP. The founding act was the first "Passerelles 09" agreement signed between these partners in 1993.
Actions Performed
The official representative of "Passerelles 09" has several tasks:
- contact the enterprises in the "department" to inform them of the legislation in force and the "Passerelles 09" system;
- study, with each enterprise which volunteers (for integration of handicapped workers), or which is obliged to do so (for job retention and rehabilitation of unfit employees), all the legal provisions to find with it the solution most suitable for its case;
- implement this solution using state aids and the subsidies of the AGEFIH;
- provide follow-up and permanent assistance to the enterprise and to the handicapped worker who is integrated.
In short, the aim is to prospect enterprises, convince them to commit themselves to the integration or rehabilitation of handicapped workers, prepare dossiers (especially for subsidies) and follow up project implementation.
To attain even better the objectives it has set itself, "Passerelles 09" does not hesitate to undertake new projects. For example, in 1999 it set up a sponsorship network for young people aged less than 26. The idea is to establish a relationship between handicapped young people, having difficulties searching for a job, and corporate managers who will guide them in their efforts to obtain a job. This innovative experimental operation, termed "Reseau Parrainage TH", involves mobilising enterprises with over 20 employees which have not reached their quota of handicapped workers. The sponsoring corporate manager agrees to guide a young job-seeker recognised as a handicapped worker, to help him in his efforts at integration.
Finally, to improve the knowledge of its objectives and reactions, by both corporate managers and the general public, "Passerelles 09" also implements communication actions:
- organisation of conference on the subject of integration of handicapped workers in the enterprise;
- organisation of a presentation of trophies known as the "Trophees Passerelles" to salute and reward four actions having enabled the integration of handicapped workers, either by recruitment, or by job retention or rehabilitation of employees recognised as unfit.
Stakeholders Involved
Alongside the Ariege-Pyrenees employers' union which initiated the operation, "Passerelles 09" mobilises six partners, having complementary missions and means.
- Association pour la Gestion du Fonds pour l'Integration Professionnelle des Personnes Handicapees: AGEFIPH
This is the organisation which manages the fund for the integration of handicapped people (collecting the contributions of enterprises with over 20 employees not employing at least 6 percent of handicapped people). Founded as a resulting of the Act of 10 July 1987, AGEFIPH makes its technical and financial resources available for actions and programmes aiming at integration or job retention for handicapped people, in an ordinary work environment. Thus, it supports and partly finances "Passerelles 09" and its various corporate actions. - Direction Departementale du Travail et de l'Emploi: DDTE
The DDTE is a department independent of the state which monitors compliance with and the application of labour legislation and implements the employment and training policy decided by the government. In the Ariege, it has put in place the departmental programme for integration of handicapped workers (which includes "Passerelles 09"). In addition to the validation and legal recognition of the project, DDTE can be an occasional financial partner for certain particular actions of "Passerelles 09" (conferences, training courses, et cetera). - Equipe de Preparation du Travail et de l'Emploi: EPSR
The EPSR is a department approved by the Direction Departementale du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Formation Professionnelle. Its missions are as follows:- Preparation, assistance for and follow-up of handicapped people throughout their efforts to achieve integration or rehabilitation.
- Placement of handicapped workers in enterprises, together with implementation of technical and financial measures to facilitate hiring.
- Counselling for enterprises faced with the question of hiring a handicapped worker.
- Agence Nationale pour l'Emploi: ANPE
National Employment Bureau ANPE brings enterprises and job-seekers into relation with one another, assisting them both and helping improve employment by looking for a match between the positions offered and the applicants. Handicapped workers, who are job applicants like any others, receive the same attention from the ANPE's staff. - The Industrial Medicine Department in the Ariege
The role of this department is to perform medical monitoring of the employees of enterprises in the Ariege, in accordance with the approval given by the Ministry of Labour. To this should be added a role of prevention and counselling for employers and employees. The Industrial Medicine Department, in its "early detection" role, facilitates contact between the employee and the "PASSERELLES 09" representative. - Caisse Regionale d'Assurance Maladie Midi-Pyrenees (regional health insurance fund). The CRAM takes part in the "PASSERELLES 09" approach via its social service in the Ariege. The role of this service is the "prevention of vocational de-integration and the rehabilitation of handicapped workers. The social service intervenes at two levels:
- indication of situations to "Passerelles 09" after agreement of the insured (social security);
- social assistance for the person over the entire path to integration.