Kristina Astrauskiene. New accessibility requirements are hitting the business threshold: what impact will this have on the labor market?

The requirements of the Accessibility Directive, which will enter into force from 2025, oblige companies to ensure that all current services and products can be used by all customers, regardless of their abilities. For example, business services or products will need to be accessible to the visually impaired, those with mobility or motor disabilities, the deaf or hard of hearing, and those with cognitive disabilities. In 2025, stricter accessibility criteria will be applied – the responsible authorities will be able to apply sanctions if the products and services of companies do not meet these criteria.

The importance of a creative and flexible specialist

In order to comply with the directive, companies will have to review the products they already manufacture or supply, the services they provide and the processes for developing new ones. For this, employees will need knowledge of whether legal matters, design, and technology meet the accessibility criteria. Specialists from various fields will be involved in the process: for lawyers, this may mean changes to contracts – contracts will have to be understood by clients with different abilities.

Representatives of real estate companies may have to think about new architectural solutions, IT specialists will have to create new digital solutions or supplement existing systems with new functions. Regardless of the business sector, many companies will need to adhere to accessibility principles when developing or improving new products and services.

Not only to adapt, but also to educate

Although the directive deals with products and services, other initiatives to promote greater inclusion and diversity in society are on the rise. For example, after the employment reform of people with disabilities comes into force in Lithuania, efforts will be made to employ at least 5% of people with disabilities in the public sector starting this year. of the disabled. Although this only applies to the public sector, it goes without saying that private businesses will also pay attention to situations where people feel excluded or socially excluded. It is especially important that companies not only pay attention to the adaptation of products and services, but also to the education of employees. Companies should have inclusion and diversity policies that are implemented in practice.

The requirements that will enter into force in 2025 will be an impetus to draw even greater attention to public involvement and education. For companies, this will mean even greater employee education. It is a journey that we will see the results of in the long run. It is important that on this journey, both companies and society accelerate, not slow down, the move towards inclusion, diversity and accessibility.

The author of the comment is Kristina Astrauskienė, head of the Personnel Department of SEB banka.