On June 4, a leading advocacy coalition focused on equitable employment opportunities for people living with disabilities marked a key milestone in its push for systemic change, formally presenting a comprehensive policy plan to the Welfare and Work Directorate of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. The formal handover was led by Alliance Decent Work for Persons with a Disability chair Renate Wartes, who delivered the document to Naomi Esajas-Friperson, deputy director of the ministry’s Labor Market Division.
In an official response to the submission, Esajas-Friperson reaffirmed the Dutch ministry’s long-standing commitment to expanding labor market participation for people with disabilities, and to creating pathways to work that upholds human dignity and fair working conditions. She highlighted that the ministry welcomes the Alliance’s targeted proposals, which are designed to narrow the accessibility gap that keeps many disabled people out of the workforce and remove persistent structural barriers that prevent long-term, sustainable employment participation.
The submission of the policy plan represents another critical step forward in the ongoing collaborative partnership between the Alliance and the Welfare and Work Directorate. Both stakeholders share a core goal of building a fully inclusive Dutch labor market, one that guarantees people with disabilities equal access to paid work, professional development opportunities, and full meaningful participation in wider society.