The months I have been in office have been eventful in terms of the extensive active ageing and disability agenda. At the Secretariat, we have worked hard to bring together all the different elements of this complex social policy commitment that the government has taken. This is a government that is positive, that is ready to listen but at the same time wants to hit the ground running. 

Having state-of-the art residential services, providing good quality community service and a services benefit programme that has first-rate social benefits is a good step in the right direction. But we need to aspire to more. Socjetà Gusta is about re-designing our social and public policy that meets and matches the individual aspirations of all persons with a disability. This is not just about "giving a lot to some" but "giving a lot to many according to their needs". 

Within this context, social policy needs to be developed from the people and by the people directly affected by those decisions. Taking citizens on board and engaging them in policy development, and in particular involving the users of services, is a powerful exercise in empowerment and collective well-being. But how are we going to do this?

Albeit the positive employment and economic trends we have started to witness, it is a fact that we need to deliver on important commitments directly related to employment in relation to people with a disability. It is also a fact that according to employment statistics, more people with disability are finding employment and we can also see a positive trend in this regard. However, we can do much more. We need to intensify our efforts in designing and implementing specialised measures focusing particularly on this vulnerable social group which is generally disengaged from the formal economy and at a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion. Not being employed does not only create economic difficulties but also perception difficulties, the thinking and feeling that 'one' cannot contribute to their community is sad and needs to be avoided. While visiting the sheltered employment programme, which is an EU-funded project, I witnessed the enthusiasm and self-fulfilment of these youngsters. This is what we want to work for and achieve.

This can happen by providing jobs not only in government departments, authorities and other state-owned entities - although this would be a good starting point. We also need to establish a formalized and structured dialogue with the MCESD to draw in all of civil society in sharing the responsibility and being part of the process to create equal opportunities, even in the area of employment. With the sheltered employment programme, I was pleased with the engagement of several companies and entities but this must continue after the programme ends. To this effect, we also need to dedicate specific resources to develop methods of collaboration with the private and NGO sectors in supported and sheltered employment schemes.

Employment is central and that is why we need to replenish our employment sector with people with a disability because effective employment leads to choices, to a stronger economy, to emancipation and to control over one's life.

Justyne Caruana is Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing.