ETDE SIGNS AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISABLED

ETDE, Bouygues Construction’s electrical contracting and maintenance subsidiary, is taking action to support the provision of job opportunities for the disabled. Changes in the law have led the company to change the way it thinks about disabled employees. In a move that goes beyond mere compliance with regulations, ETDE recently signed an agreement with the social partners relating to the recruitment and retention of disabled employees. The agreement was approved by the local authority’s Employment Department on June 15. ETDE is the first company in its sector to embark on this kind of initiative.

Under the three-year agreement, signed on May 5, 2005, 60 new disabled employees will be recruited by 2008. The company already employs 130 disabled people. In addition, business worth 100,000 euros will initially be placed with the disabled sector in 2006, and solutions will be proposed for all disability issues arising within the company.

ETDE’s Chairman and CEO, Gaëtan Desruelles, said: "The company is conducting a fundamental overhaul of its practices with the aim of combating exclusion and indifference. Supporting greater inclusion of disabled workers provides us with a genuine opportunity. The courage, determination and enthusiasm of our current and future disabled employees will act as a shining example for our entire workforce."


Cooperation with disabled employment association
ETDE’s disability employment agreement results from a review process launched in 2005. To provide an objective baseline for the process, ETDE commissioned a survey in partnership with the French disabled employment association AGEFIPH and a consultancy specialising in the development of inclusion policies for the disabled.

Two out of three disabled employees work in the field
The survey focused in particular on the 130 disabled employees on the company’s payroll. Contrary to popular belief, having a disability does not rule out working in the field. In fact, two out of every three disabled employees working for ETDE are currently employed in production jobs, rather than behind a desk.

For example:

• In South-East France, a 26-year-old member of the Energy Workers’ Guild (Compagnons de l’Énergie) fractured his pelvis in a work accident in 1987. He was on sick leave for 8 months following the accident. Having been classed as incapable of performing physical work by the Vocational Classification Committee (COTOREP), he followed a redeployment programme with a view to finding work in a drawing office. For several months, he attended a technical high school two days a week for training in his new job as a land surveyor based in a design office, a post he currently fills with ETDE near Lyons.
  
• A female employee who suffered 55% non-visible disability (COTOREP classification) following an accident has retrained in the Purchasing Department in Nantes, and has replaced a highly experienced employee previously responsible for purchasing activities for seven operational centres in the Midi Pyrénées region.
  
• In September 2000, two 35-year-old members of the Energy Workers’ Guild, employed as electrical linesmen in the North of France, suffered a serious work accident. Following a period of sick leave (3 years and 4½ years respectively), the two employees returned to their teams for retraining in new roles. The first, no longer capable of working on power lines, became a driver, and then a team leader. The second, classed as 35% disabled by COTOREP, benefited from an agreement between ETDE and AGEFIPH. He trained at an AFPA (vocational training association) centre, where he successfully obtained his HGV licence. He now works as an HGV driver for ETDE.

Disability inclusion
The analysis enabled priorities to be defined for the agreement with the social partners. The three-year agreement (covering the period 2006-2008) applies to all of ETDE’s locations in France, and includes undertakings on the following topics:

• In-house training in disability issues for employees and HR staff. The study highlighted a lack of knowledge and awareness of disability issues among employees. 80% associate the concept of disability with a motor disability, although this actually covers just 45% of disabled workers, less than 2% of whom use a wheelchair. 24% of disabilities are due to a disabling illness such as asthma or diabetes; the remainder are mental or multiple disabilities.
  
• Employment opportunities for disabled employees, with recruitment solely on the basis of skills criteria. ETDE will recruit at least 15 disabled workers in 2006, 20 in 2007, and 25 in 2008.
  
• Retention within the company of employees who have become disabled, regardless of the cause of their disability.
  
• Subcontracting of business to the disabled sector (reprographics, mailing, recycling, catering, canteen services, maintenance, gardening, packaging, etc.).
  
  
  

About ETDE:
A subsidiary of Bouygues Construction, ETDE is a full-line supplier and integrator of technological solutions and services, serving public and private clients in the energy, industry, service, transport, environment and telecommunications sectors.

It operates through four clearly structured, customer-oriented business areas: utility networks, electrical, mechanical and HVAC engineering, communication systems and facilities management.

ETDE provides its French and international clients with comprehensive solutions that encompass engineering, installation, maintenance and operation.

It relies on the expertise, commitment and responsiveness of its 9,500 staff members to deliver innovative solutions with added technological value. Backed by a network of 170 offices in France and a presence in 20 countries abroad, ETDE posted sales of €746 million in 2004 and expects to generate €1 billion in 2005.