Local Labour London Assembly Member John Biggs has called on Mayor Boris Johnson to step in and ensure that disabled Londoners are not forgotten in the aftermath of Remploy Factories being closed down by central government.
The Remploy Factory in Barking has provided employment for over 40 years and currently employs 60 local disabled people. When the proposed closures were announced John Biggs led a deputation of representatives to meet the Mayor's economic adviser, where he helped secured agreement that the Mayor would provide help to put together an alternative proposal for managing one or all of the London Remploy plants.
Local Labour London Assembly Member John Biggs said: “The closure of the Remploy factories in Barking and across London will result in many disabled people losing their livelihoods and the dignity of being able to support themselves and their dependents. While it is very well and generally good practice to support the integration of disabled workers into the main work force, the fact is that the track record of this is very poor, with many workers falling into long-term unemployment, with associated problems of poverty, depression and worsening health. Remploy has been, literally, a lifeline for many workers and I am very worried about the future.”
“The Mayor now needs to take pro-active steps to ensure that there are employment opportunities for disabled Londoners. He can do this in three ways. Firstly by ensuring that a proportion of the 200,000 jobs he pledged in his election manifesto are dedicated to employing people with disabilities. Secondly by amending the procurement policy for the Greater London Authority, the Mayor can insure that when GLA money is spent on contracts it is also spent on supporting a workforce that reflects the diversity and unity of Londoners. And third, by using his leadership to drive good practice and high standards across employers in London. Remploy is being forced to shut its doors. It’s time the Mayor and London open theirs.”
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