Employment Conference July 2003

Direct Employment by ONCE

by Josefa TORRES

Introduction

The ONCE Group

The different job creation methods

The plan 20,000/40,000

Conclusion : we have a lot left to do

Appendix : Fundosa Grupo S.A. - Alternative measures

Introduction

Work confers on every individual a series of positive conditions that favour their integration, conditions that range from psychosocial factors – such as self-esteem and the development of social and personal skills – to objective aspects – such as economic and personal autonomy, that allow for increased purchasing power and improved quality of life.

It is for this reason that having a job is regarded as a symptom of, and a means of achieving, social integration. A reduction in – or even a lack of – income, accompanied by the lack of a job, has a fundamental effect on impeding social participation, thus leading to social exclusion. Work becomes an essential factor in the social integration process for disabled people.

Fully endorsing these considerations, the Spanish National Organisation of the Blind (ONCE) has been committed for over 60 years to implementing a model for providing services to its members that is truly unique in the world. This work has made it possible to accomplish the social integration of the blind and visually impaired population in Spain. The ONCE has dealt with aspects of personal autonomy, education, the provision of health and cultural services, employment within the organisation, the direction and administration (self-management) of the organisation by its own members, boosting business initiatives through their Business Corporation (CEOSA), cooperation and solidarity with the other disability groups through the ONCE FOUNDATION and, in recent years, the decisive drive to promote employment in the mainstream business world and through self-employment.

This concern and commitment has been constantly demonstrated by the ONCE’s policy and management team, and is clearly reflected in its current and future strategy. The goal is to provide the blind, visually impaired and the disabled in general with the best possible services and to facilitate their incorporation, on a truly level footing, into society at large. This is what drives the ONCE to implement an employment model for this population group that seeks to cover all the available job opportunities and all existing and possible job creation formulas, in order to promote full integration into the labour market.

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The ONCE Group

The ONCE is a Public Law Corporation, of an associative and social nature.

Its foundation dates back to 1938 and its prime goal is to channel the social services and all its job creation schemes to benefit all blind and visually impaired citizens in Spain.

Its structure is as follows:

- The General Council: this is the central governing body of the Institution and the maximum organ of representation for those people affiliated to the ONCE. Its election and operation are based on a democratic system of participation on the part of the members of the Organisation.

-The General Directorate: the maximum executive organ of the ONCE, entrusted with promoting and administering the commercialisation of its lottery (the cupón) and of implementing all the social services programs for blind and visually impaired people, in addition to putting into practice the agreements adopted by the General Council.

-The Business Corporation: with the creation in 1986 of the Business Corporation, the ONCE aimed to boost the presence of the Organisation in mainstream economic activity. This was to be achieved by participating in and managing profitable companies that generate employment and contribute, either directly or indirectly, to the integration of people with disabilities, particularly the blind and visually impaired, in the labour market. -The ONCE Foundation: in 1988, driven by the spirit of cooperation and solidarity shown by the Spanish blind population towards other disabled groups, the ONCE created the ONCE Foundation. The prime objectives of the ONCE Foundation are the promotion of social integration and work insertion programmes and global accessibility.

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The Different Job Creation Methods

Through its different executive structures, the ONCE generates and promotes different methods of creating employment, all with one overriding objective: to improve the quality of life for blind and visually impaired people, and indeed all other disabled people, pledging its commitment to ensure quality, stable, decent jobs.

ONCE General Directorate:
Through the ONCE General Directorate, employment is created in several ways that could be divided into three major groups:

1. Internal job creation:
Lottery Sellers

Selling the cupón is the main source of revenue for the Organisation and the principal means of job creation for the blind and visually impaired in Spain, as well as a major source of employment for other disabled people.

At present, over 23,000 people – either blind, visually impaired or with other disabilities – are selling the ONCE lottery all over Spain. This activity thus constitutes a compelling point of reference, as regards the access of disabled people to stable employment.

Blind and visually impaired people selling the cupon : 14,000

People with other disabilities selling the cupon : 9,000

Workers in the internal structure

Another source of generating employment for people who are blind, visually impaired, have other disabilities or are not disabled, is the direct employment arising from staffing the ONCE’s own internal structure. In this regard, as of December 31st 2001, the average number of ONCE personnel, excluding lottery sellers, came to 5,334 workers.

2. Promotion and creation of external employment
Besides the direct creation of employment by the Organisation itself, the ONCE pledges its firm commitment to the implementation and execution of employment initiatives and schemes that promote the employment of blind and visually impaired people outside the confines of the ONCE Group. Fruit of the Organisation’s effort to achieve greater job placement rates for those affiliated to the ONCE, in jobs and activities other than those generated by the Institution itself, is the fact that, as of December 31st 2001, the number of members of the ONCE employed in companies outside the ONCE came to 1,329. This figure even surpasses the number of employees in the ONCE Group itself, excluding the lottery sellers.

Despite all the efforts made, this road to achieving the incorporation of blind or visually impaired workers into the labour market is still full of potholes, fundamentally for two reasons:

The strategic lines of action to meet this challenge have been the following:
Labour mediation in the mainstream job market
ONCE is making a twofold effort in this field: on the one hand, it works directly with the visually impaired to establish their professional profile, professional qualifications, professional interests, skills, etc., with a view to determining the possible jobs that best suit their professional profile and interests; on the other hand, it undertakes an intense collaboration with companies, compiling all available offers of employment. In this relationship with the companies, several functions are carried out:

Employment in public administrations
Another line of work is the support offered to blind and visually impaired people to enable them to become public servants.

The employment generated by the Public Administrations themselves is yet another possible route to joining the labour market that cannot be disregarded. This is particularly true when you consider that the Public Administrations, as is the case for companies with more than 50 workers, are legally obliged to reserve a number of posts for disabled people (a quota of 2% reserved for the disabled in companies of over 50 employees; and 3% of the places offered for public administrations must be reserved for the disabled until they constitute 2% of the staff).

ONCE is working on two fronts in this field: on the one hand, it provides assistance to all those members who are studying for the competitive examinations to become public employees; on the other hand, it collaborates directly with the Public Administrations in order to aid them in the task of evaluating and adapting the tests to ensure the principle of equality applies, as regards access to public service.

Self-employment
Work insertion through self-employment and the creation of microbusinesses is a real alternative for the blind and visually impaired population. From this perspective, it is a further possible way of creating employment opportunities that is taken into consideration by the ONCE.

The organisation provides the following support to its members when they opt for the creation of their own job.

Business Corporation
The ultimate goal of the ONCE Business Corporation responds to a two-pronged objective: the development of profitable companies that contribute towards the labour integration of blind and visually impaired workers; and collaborating in the creation of employment for other disabled people.

The Business Corporation undertakes its economic activity in an open and competitive environment, serving as an example of the successful integration of disabled people and of generating employment generally, thus contributing to both economic and social development.

It currently operates in four basic business sectors:

In addition, it carries out other business activities in the most diverse economic sectors: food, urban furniture, insurance, physiotherapy clinics, etc.

Among these activities, a novel, successful example can be found in the University Physiotherapy Clinics (REVITASS). These clinics were born out of the collaboration agreement signed between the ONCE General Directorate, the University Physiotherapy College and the ONCE Business Corporation in September 1997. The final goal of REVITASS is to provide commercial support and general assistance, as regards image and publicity, to those physiotherapists affiliated to the ONCE that decide to opt for self-employment (i.e. set up their own physiotherapy clinic).

The pillars on which the creation of the REVITASS physiotherapy clinics is based are:

There are already 24 clinics authorised to use the REVITASS name. A total of 50 ONCE members work at these centres.

Within the Business Corporation, as of December 2001, the creation of employment has been as follows:

ONCE Foundation

The creation of employment for people with some disability (physical, mental or sensorial) is the maximum priority of the ONCE Foundation, understanding as it does that labour integration is the principal route to social integration.

The ONCE Foundation uses the following means to further the creation of employment:

Companies in the Fundosa Group
The Fundosa Group is the business division of the ONCE Foundation. It was created in 1989, with the aim of creating employment for people with disabilities.

It is an umbrella organisation for a significant number of its own firms and others in which it has a stake, together with other companies. It also operates in numerous economic sectors, such as:

Most of the work centres belonging to the Fundosa Group are special employment centres, that is to say, they are subject to protected employment regulations, with disabled workers accounting for 70% or more of the staff at these centres.

As of December 31st 2001, the number of workers in Fundosa Group companies, both their own and investee companies, came to 11,484, of whom 68.6% are workers with some kind of disability.

Labour intermediation and collaboaration with external companies
The objective of this labour intermediation is to locate the most suitable candidate to fill a certain post.

ONCE Foundation, through its company that is specialised in human resources consultancy (FSC), carries out the following activities in order to fulfil that objective:

During the year 2001, a total of 2,317 disabled workers joined companies, thanks to the results of such labour intermediation.

Another way of collaborating with employers is the INSERTA Programme. This programme is based on collaboration agreements between employers of recognised prestige and business solvency and the ONCE Foundation. The aim of these agreements is to offer support, from the ONCE Foundation, to the company, when it comes to incorporating disabled people into its workforce. This support takes the form of advice regarding the selection of candidates, "tailor-made" training of future disabled workers, advice on obtaining public subsidies and, even, some economic contribution.

Support for employment projects
Economic aid for the creation of employment for disabled people, promoted by entities from the associative movement or other economic agents, is another of the employment creation possibilities.

The ONCE Foundation thus finances investment plans for projects whose goal is to create employment for disabled workers.

Self-employment
Work insertion through self-employment and the creation of microbusinesses is a real alternative for the disabled population.

The organisation provides the following assistance to disabled people when they opt for the creation of their own job.

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THE PLAN 20,000/40,000

The ONCE Group is firmly committed to promoting the employment of people with disabilities, as has been reflected above. Fruit of this commitment, and of an agreement with the Spanish government, is the Plan 20,000/40,000. The strategic objectives for the period 1999-2008 include the creation of 20,000 jobs for disabled people and the execution of 40,000 training activities.

The accumulated data from 1999 to December 31st 2001 for the whole of the ONCE Group are as follows:

16,540

64,622

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Conclusions : We Have a Lot Left to Do

Nobody can argue that the Achilles heel of work insertion – and, with it, social integration – is the question of training. It is clear that employability depends on the training received; and on the employment found or accessible depends, to a greater or lesser degree, the possibility of social integration and personal development for this population group.

This new society is imposing new performance parameters on individuals and institutions. A greater threshold of basic knowledge, as well as appropriate professional training, are indispensable requirements to be in a position to get your first job and be able to maintain it for life.

In the case of people afflicted by some kind of disability, these demands are accentuated, as they start from unfavourable personal circumstances, a somewhat lacking basic education and levels of integration and social participation that, although they are improving, are still not what could be desired.

The so-called "cognitive society" forces institutions operating in the field of education, training and employment to make a great effort to achieve greater correlation between the demands of the modern world and the developmental needs of individuals.

Access to, and permanency in, the labour market require that both the unemployed and workers permanently adapt to the constant changes taking place in occupational structures and in professional qualifications. Lifelong training throughout a professional career is presented as the only formula for success. Committing yourself firmly to quality training for disabled people, as an indispensable process in the current economic environment, is to pledge yourself to an active social inclusion measure that will prevent this group finding itself "uncoupled" from the high-speed train that is this new Society in which we are immersed.

Resolving social problems involves, of necessity, social change: basically, it is a question of changing the ways in which individuals and groups live out their lives, changing attitudes and values within communities and in society as a whole.

In modern societies, the predominant idea is that social life and the individual may be shaped, changed and improved by a rational action: by individuals, groups, the government, or by a combination of civic and governmental action.

Accessing the mainstream labour market was, and still is, a difficult objective for people with some disability. For this reason, it is necessary to seek and implement solutions in order to support their social and labour integration.

The special difficulty involved in achieving the work insertion of the disabled population makes it necessary to confront the processes of improving their employability and work insertion with complex actions that have a bearing on society, people with disabilities and prospective employers.

All these are questions still pending, ones that must be faced. The task is not easy, but the social and political commitment is increasingly stronger. And the strength of the movement in this sector increases day by day.

In any case, as Karl Popper declared, "it is our moral duty to remain committed to optimism and hope, because only in that way can we remain active and achieve what is within our possibilities" in order to fulfil the goals of cohesion and integration that modern society has set itself.

To conclude, we could underscore the fact that, at the end of 2001, direct employment created by the ONCE came to 59,200 people (in the whole of the ONCE Group), of whom 15,200 are blind or visually impaired, 19,000 have non-visual disabilities and 25,000 have no disability at all.

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Appendix

Fundosa Grupo, S.A. - Alternative Measures
Business Capacity
Fundosa Group is the business division that was created in 1989 by the ONCE Foundation for the purpose of generating and managing employment for the disabled. It fulfils its mission through direct employment or agreements with companies and institutions.

Fundosa Group has consolidated a diversification process, the fruit of which is an extensive offer of services. It is made up of 22 subsidiaries, with more than 130 work centres, mainly Special Employment Centres. These Centres, the majority of which have been awarded quality certificates, are distributed throughout all the Autonomous Regions.

In 2001 the Fundosa Group’s subsidiaries achieved a turnover of 130 million euros, with a payroll of 6,000 workers. If investee companies are also included, this figure rises to 12,000. The percentage of jobs occupied by the disabled exceeds 70%.

Alternative Measures Unit
In the case of institutional companies in Spain, legislation has provided a series of alternative measures to the direct hiring of the disabled, with a view to achieving a reasonable measure of flexibility for fulfilling the social commitment of the integration of the disabled in the labour market.

The ONCE Foundation, through the Fundosa Group and its Alternative Measures Unit, offers a personalised solution for fulfilling these legal requirements, based on the premises of maximum return and guarantees.

For any company, compliance with these Alternative Measures represents a social challenge which brings with it an important component of recognition and prestige.

The Fundosa Group provides profitable and satisfactory solutions for the fulfilment of this social obligation.

New Technologies
Technology, Quality and Integration are the key points of the companies grouped together in the area of New Information Technologies within the Fundosa Group.

The result of this leading edge technology and maximum guarantees is the complete satisfaction of its clients.

The area’s main value is the surmounting of professional challenges, promoting the social integration of persons with some type of disability in one of the professional environments most sought after by today’s society.

Servicios de Telemarketing, S.A. (SERTEL)
Its activities are focussed on telemarketing consultancy and commercial management services. It provides a global offer of services capable of placing its clients’ activities at the forefront of Information Technologies.

A dynamic and competitive company, it bases its activities on the principles of quality and the personalised treatment of its clients, meeting their needs with maximum speed and efficacy.

Fundosa Control de Datos, S.A. (FUCODA)
It provides a global response to the data processing needs of its clients, with maximum efficacy and professionalism. It operates from numerous work centres distributed throughout Spain.

Fundosa Control de Datos specializes in the computerization of bibliographic centres, an activity that is on the increase amongst companies that need to digitally manage large quantities of filed documents, for which, amongst other tasks, the mechanical recording of texts and large-scale digitalization of documents are necessary.

Of the services provided by Fundosa Control de Datos, most worthy of note is its global offer in direct marketing, in which it assumes full responsibility for carrying out mailings for its clients, from the processing of databases to the delivery of mail.

Fundosa Teleservicios, S.A. (TELE SERVICIOS)
The main objective of this company is to make the latest advances in Information Technologies available to companies and private individuals.

Foremost in telecommunications, Teleservicios has the capacity to face up to new challenges in harmony with its clients’ demands. To meet these needs, it has interconnected centres in Spain’s main provincial capitals.

Industrial

The Fundosa Group believes in participating in the most innovative industrial processes. In harmony with the latest technological advances, it works for the defence and protection of the environment.

The Group’s immersion in the industry involves different sectors, leading companies that can boast the value added of a policy that is consistent with the social and labour market integration of people with some type of disability.

To this end, the Group invests in quality, state-of-the-art technologies and human resources, with the sole aim of guaranteeing an integral solution.

Fundosa Lavanderías Industriales (FLISA)
This is the leading national chain of industrial laundries, with 30 plants distributed throughout Spain, certified by the EU-EN-ISO 9002 standard.

The most important characteristics of FLISA are its strict quality control and the fact that it is a pioneer in the research and development of new services. It also has its own laboratory, equipped with the latest technology to guarantee the best price/quality ratio.

Fundosa Alimentaria
A leading company devoted to the preparation and commercialization of food products.

Its main objective is to offer maximum quality, achieved through a meticulous dedication to research and development for the creation of products that meet the demands of its clients.

With its own widespread distribution network to guarantee deliveries anywhere in Spain and Portugal, Fundosa Alimentaria also exports to EU countries and the North American market.

Grupo Columbia
The Columbia Group is an obligatory point of reference in the sector of the manufacture and recycling of consumables used in computerized printing.

Its vocation for technological innovation combined with respect for the environment, the maximum quality of its products and a service designed to give complete satisfaction to its clients are the pillars on which the Columbia Group’s corporate policy is based.

Columbia exports to more than 20 countries and serves its clients in less than 48 hours.

Fundosa Textil
A company devoted to the manufacture and commercialization of work clothes and accessories relating to both personal protective equipment and corporate image, for a wide variety of industrial areas (health, construction, cleaning, security, etc.).

A prior and thorough selection of the raw materials combined with an exhaustive control of the cutting and sewing processes guarantees the top quality of the products.

Servicios Integrales Sanitarios
Servicios Integrales Sanitarios (Integral Health Services) is capable of offering an effective solution to the problem of treating waste produced by the health care sector. The sterilization treatments it provides achieve the highest levels of efficacy and respect for the environment, thanks to the use of highly advanced technological processes.

At present it has three health care waste management and treatment centres.

Services
In harmony with the Spanish economy’s general trend, and in an endeavour always to occupy a position in the most relevant business sectors, Fundosa Group operates with the firm commitment of covering the needs demanded by today’s society.

Satisfaction is its main objective and the constant surpassing of new goals its motivation. An extensive human team, comprising persons with some type of disability, is the motor behind the essential and value added services it provides for companies and private individuals alike.

Fundosa Social Consulting
Fundosa Social Consulting is a company that specialises in Human Resources Consultancy, Training Plans and Management services for companies.

Its purpose is to offer an integral and personalized service in the fields of training, labour mediation and consultancy for public and private institutions and companies through the analysis of job vacancies and the location and selection of the most suitable candidates. Starting with a study of the client company’s hiring processes, it carries out the design and provides assistance in the execution of human resource policies, guaranteeing the personal and professional growth of the client company’s employees.

Galenas
Constituted in 1990 with the objective of creating commercial modules in hospitals, Galenas has extended its field of activities to public highways and university campuses.

In parallel with this activity, it has diversified and is now able to offer an integral office supplies service.

It currently has more than fifty shops distributed throughout Spain and its range of products exceeds 12,000 references.

Galenas offers an integral solution to companies, guaranteeing a professional service combined with excellent prices and the maximum quality of its products.

Finca El Río
Located in Estremadura, this estate covers an area of 4,000 hectares containing two large reservoirs, which make up the surroundings of an attractive Rural Hotel. Once a farmhouse, it has been renovated to provide travellers with a comfortable place in which to rest, framed within a unique landscape, which has been classified as being of high ecological value. The hotel has 19 fully equipped air-conditioned rooms, a swimming pool and restaurant with terrace.

Designed for companies as well as private visitors, it is the ideal setting for organizing events such as company conventions and meetings, with the guarantee of the excellent service it provides.

Fundosa Sport y Ocio
This is the manifestation of the Fundosa Group’s immersion in the world of Sports and Leisure, through the management and exploitation of the well-known Somontes Sports Centre, located in the El Pardo woodlands (National Heritage).

A leisure and entertainment centre, surrounded by gardens, green areas and sports facilities. Its restaurants and terraces are deservedly famous.

It offers season tickets for companies at reduced prices, so that they can organize official championships, as well as restaurant and catering services for special events, such as company lunches or dinners, in a unique landscape, all of which is also available for the enjoyment of private individuals.

Accessibility

Freedom of movement is now possible thanks to the Fundosa Group’s Accessibility Area, constituted to facilitate the autonomy of people who need a fast and safe response.

This division is made up of three companies specializing in the adaptation of different areas of life of the disabled. Quality and accumulated experience guarantee its services.

Tecnicaid
A company expert in consultancy and the implementation of ergonomics in work stations, its activities facilitate mobility in all the basic activities of daily life in the workplace, such as personal hygiene, eating and communications.

Some of its most important clients are the Hospital Network and Geriatric Clinics.

It has the largest display in Spain of orthopaedic and rehabilitation accessories and technical aids, distributed in its three sales outlets located in Madrid, Granada and Toledo.

The variety of products available in its shops includes a wide range of wheelchairs, all types of walking sticks, crutches and anti-crust cushions, transfer winches, vertical elevation systems and platforms, didactic games, sports material, breast implants, etc.

Desarrollos Vía Libre, S.L.
National leader in the elimination of architectural and urban barriers, it offers integral solutions based on its qualified experience, of which the numerous projects carried out by Local and Provincial Councils, Regional Governments, institutions, public and private buildings, etc. are its guarantee.

Vía Libre solves problems of accessibility, finding the solutions that are best suited to each medium: natural spaces, universities, hospitals, museums, theatres, cinemas, buildings and public highways.

Fundosa Euro Taxi
This is a company devoted to the adaptation and commercialization of vehicles for persons with reduced mobility. It has been working since 1990 towards the adaptation of different types of vehicle to the needs of the disabled.

It also supplies the well-known Eurotaxi, of which more than 500 are now in use in Spain.

Other Companies

Grupo Idea

Hotel and Catering and Industrial Laundry Services – Care and Assistance Services for the Mentally Disabled – Graphic Arts – Electronics – Carpentry and Furniture Finishing – Integral Cleaning and the Maintenance of Gardens – Car Parks – Dog Centre.

This is a Group made up of a total of eight companies located in the Autonomous Region of Andalusia, which conduct their activities in different service areas. Fully committed to vocational training, the Group carries out the organization, management and execution of programmes sponsored by the European Social Fund.

To implement these training activities, Idea locates human and financial resources for the start-up of social companies of all types. The objectives of these companies are the product of a market survey amongst Sectors of Interest, in which the management needs of a particular region are evaluated, taking into account its economic situation.

Fundosa Control de Premios
Technical Lottery Systems
The activity of F.C.P. consists of the verification of prize-winning cupones and the detection of possible differences resulting from errors of calculation or settlement.

Fundosa Control de Premios handles in the region of 41 million cupones each year.

Its headquarters are located in Madrid and it also has operating centres in Barcelona and Seville.

Mediterránea de Volantes
Automobile Accessories
This is the company that demonstrates that, with enthusiasm and the will to improve, great things can be achieved, providing a service in accordance with recent needs that require Innovative Technologies, in compliance with the ISO 9001 Quality Standards.

Located in Almussafes in Valencia, within the Supplier Complex of Ford España, S.A., its main activity is the manufacture and fitting of leather covers for the steering wheels of the models this car manufacturer is currently producing.

Fundosa T.B.S.
Adaptation of Books for the Blind

The aim of Fundosa T.B.S. is to offer a rapid and professional response to the growing demand for books, both in Braille and spoken versions, for use by the blind.

Using teams of highly qualified staff, made up almost entirely of the disabled, high quality levels are achieved with minimum delivery periods.

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Back to "European Employment Conference" Contents

Direct Employment by Organisations of the Visually Impaired

Direct Employment by ONCE

Introduction

The ONCE Group

The Different Job Creation Methods

THE PLAN 20,000/40,000

Conclusions : We Have a Lot Left to Do

Appendix

Industrial

Accessibility

Other Companies