Welsh Government
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Go ahead given to contracts supporting disabled people
The Welsh Assembly Government has become one of the first public sector organisations within the UK to undertake a tender exercise that is reserved for supported businesses and supported factories. These are companies and organisations where 50% or more of the workforce have disabilities and the reserving of contracts for such organisations is encouraged under European law.
Andrew Davies said:
All eligible suppliers were encouraged to take part in the tender exercise which was let in three lots for the supply of IT recycling, furniture and signage to the Welsh public sector.
I am delighted to confirm that of the five supported businesses and factories awarded contracts, three operate from Wales - Remploy, E-Inclusion and Monwell. These contracts have the potential to provide invaluable employment opportunities for individuals who by the nature of their disability would find it difficult to get mainstream employment.
The contracts will in turn allow the public sector in Wales to engage more with supported factories and businesses and enable them to fulfil their vital role in employing those with disabilities.
The award of these groundbreaking contracts delivers a truly sustainable solution that has the potential to bring significant economic and social benefits. Vital elements in helping to sustain a just, inclusive and responsible Wales.
Welcoming the news, Allan Garley, Regional Secretary of the GMB union, said:
The Wales TUC and my own Trade Union, the GMB, recognises the challenges faced by people coping with a disability are immense, and supported factories and businesses play a major and valuable role in providing highly skilled employment and ongoing training, social interaction and mentoring and support to help people with disabilities become more independent, and play an active part in the world of work and their communities.
Opportunities offered by Article 19 of the EU Directive for reserving contracts for supported factories and businesses, provide us with the legal means of ensuring a steady stream of high quality work, and are unique within the world of procurement regulations, because the impact of providing employment for disabled people is universally recognised as being of significant financial and social benefit.
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