SIPTU has stated its support for the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 which seeks to address the remaining legislative barriers to the ratification by Ireland of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). The UN CRPD provides the framework to advocate for, protect and ensure the rights of all people with disabilities and promotes equal rights in all areas of life. SIPTU National Campaigns and Equality Organiser, Karan O’Loughlin, said: “Bad employers can often concentrate on an individual’s disability, thereby ignoring their abilities. It is the unacceptable truth that even today many employers wrongly perceive individuals with disabilities as less capable of participating in the labour market. Our union completely rejects this position and is committed to ensuring equal rights for all workers and combating all forms of discrimination. “The UN CRPD explicitly provides for a prohibition on all discrimination on the basis of disability and protects the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others. We strongly support the announcement yesterday by The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald, and the Minister of State for Disability, Finian McGrath, that the Government has endorsed this Bill which when enacted will allow Ireland to ratify the UN CRPD.” She added: “SIPTU members will continue to campaign to ensure all workers in Ireland are treated equally and their rights are adequately protected.”
SIPTU supports Government Bill on the rights of persons with disabilities
