Business
The legal fight to get equal pay for Germany’s disabled workers
I have heard many similar stories. I myself was born blind, and remember very well my first school report, when I was six, which advised my parents to send me to a school for children with learning disabilities.
I grew up speaking both German and Arabic and constantly mixed them up, not understanding that they were separate languages. If my parents had not ignored that first school report, I too might have ended up in a workshop. Instead, today I’m one of only a handful of journalists in Germany with a visible disability.
Hüppe says the workshop system fails in one of its most basic responsibilities – to rehabilitate disabled people in order to prepare them to work in the mainstream economy.
“This responsibility just isn’t taken seriously,” he tells me.
The reason for that is in part the economic incentives that are offered to German companies to support the system. In Germany, any company that employs more than 20 people is legally obliged to employ at least one disabled person.
Larger companies have a minimum quota of 5%. Those who fail to meet this commitment have to pay a sum in compensation into a central fund that supports disabled people in the workplace.
Many companies choose simply to pay this money rather than meet their quota. They are offered a further incentive by the system, in that if they outsource production to a workshop the compensation they have to pay is reduced.
The result is that fewer than 1% of disabled people make a successful transition from workshop to a job with a mainstream company.
Hüppe also says workshops are reluctant to see their best staff move on. “Obviously a workshop is a commercial enterprise that survives on what it produces,” says Hüppe. “And so obviously they want to hold on to their best workers, the ones that would have the best chance of making it out in the mainstream economy.”
He points me to a 2023 report, external by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which criticised Germany’s record on disability.
Specifically, it noted “the high number of persons with disabilities enrolled in sheltered workshops and the low rate of transition to the open labour market”.
Not everyone, however, is unhappy being employed in a workshop, including Medina Arnaut, 35. She works for one in Paderborn that is operated by a charity called Caritas.
Arnaut is also the chair of the local workshop council, which represents the interests of the workers in a similar way to a trade union.
“We have colleagues here who are so grateful that workshops exist,” she says. “These are colleagues who quite simply need this workshop environment because of their disability.”
Arnaut adds many of her colleagues have worked in the mainstream economy and the pressure there is completely different. “People come to me and say, I’ve experienced life out there in the commercial world and it made me sick.”
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Apogee Therapeutics CEO Henderson sells $10.6m in common stock
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Scotland will be aiming to make World Cup history when they lock horns with Brazil in their third and final Group C fixture at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Wednesday. The two nations meet almost three decades on from their last World Cup clash in 1998, when the South American giants claimed a 2-1 victory en route to reaching the final.
Scotland’s Path to This Moment
Five days after securing an important 1-0 victory over Haiti in their opening match at the 2026 World Cup, Scotland suffered defeat by the same scoreline against Morocco last Friday in a tight contest decided by a goal scored just 70 seconds in by Ismael Saibari. Head coach Steve Clarke felt that Scotland were unfortunate not to be awarded at least one penalty during a spirited second-half performance. Nevertheless, the 62-year-old was pleased by how his players “showed we can compete against top-10 teams,” even though they failed to register a single shot on target.
What’s at Stake for Scotland
Securing their first-ever win over the mighty Brazil would guarantee a top-two finish in Group C, while a draw would most likely seal a top-three finish and progress to the last 32. Scotland could also reach the knockouts if they lose to Brazil, though they will be keen to avoid a heavy defeat in Miami.
A Lopsided Head-to-Head History
Scotland’s record against Brazil leaves a lot to be desired ahead of Wednesday’s contest, as they have lost six and drawn two of their previous eight international encounters, including three group-stage defeats at the World Cup between 1982 and 1998. They first met in 1974, playing out a goalless draw in West Germany. Since then, Brazil have won all of their World Cup encounters, securing victories in 1982, 1990, and 1998. The Tartan Army has only once secured a positive result against the Seleção — that 0-0 draw in 1974.
Brazil’s Own Path Through the Group
After being held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening Group C fixture, Brazil secured their first victory at the 2026 World Cup last Saturday by defeating Haiti 3-0, courtesy of a brace from Matheus Cunha and another first-half strike from Vinicius Junior. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed his team’s “complete” performance post-match, and his Seleção side are now in a strong position to secure top spot in Group C. To guarantee advancing as group winners, they simply need to match or better Morocco’s result against Haiti when they take to the pitch against Scotland.
A Warning From History
Despite their strong recent form, Brazil cannot afford to take Wednesday’s match lightly. History serves as a warning, as Brazil’s last three defeats in the group stage at a World Cup have all been suffered on matchday three, including a surprise 1-0 loss against Cameroon in Qatar. As a result, the Seleção cannot afford to take anything for granted when they face a fired-up Scotland outfit on Wednesday.
Team News for Brazil
Ancelotti’s side will be without a key part of their attack in Miami, as Raphinha will be sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The Barcelona winger exited in the 40th minute of Brazil’s most recent match against Haiti. Reports in Spain suggest the setback could be more serious than initially feared. Either way, Raphinha won’t be in action on Wednesday, potentially opening the door for Bournemouth talent Rayan to earn his first World Cup start.
Neymar’s potential return has dominated much of the pre-match buildup. The veteran superstar has been forced to sit out of Brazil’s opening two group games with a calf injury sustained after Ancelotti controversially selected him in his 26-man roster. Neymar, surely competing at his last World Cup, has completed his first full training session ahead of Wednesday’s game and is expected to feature at some point against the Tartan Army, though Ancelotti has confirmed Neymar “will be available” without committing to him starting. Lucas Paquetá is set to continue in the No. 10 role, supporting Vinicius Junior and Cunha in attack, while Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhães, and Douglas Santos are all set to begin in defense behind midfield duo Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães.
Team News for Scotland
Dinamo Zagreb defender Scott McKenna is back in training after missing Scotland’s first two games with a calf injury. Aaron Hickey missed the last match against Morocco and remains a doubt against Brazil. Midfielder Lewis Ferguson is set to start despite being rested from training over the weekend. Kieran Tierney appeared to come off injured against Morocco but has since returned to training and looks set to feature.
Scotland’s predicted lineup: Angus Gunn; Andrew Robertson, Grant Hanley, Jack Hendry, Nathan Patterson; John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Lewis Ferguson, Ryan Christie, Ben Gannon-Doak; Che Adams.
Robertson’s Message to the Tartan Army
Scotland’s supporters, known as the Tartan Army, have been a highlight of this World Cup and have been praised for their passion by locals in Boston, Massachusetts, where the team played their first two group-stage matches. Scotland captain Andrew Robertson is hoping to give them something to celebrate in Miami. “We want to give them something to shout about. We want to give them something to be happy about, and obviously, also if we win the game, then we’ve created history,” he told reporters.
Match Details and How to Watch
The match kicks off at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, 22:00 GMT, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. In the United States, the match will be broadcast on Universo, FOX, FOX One, the Telemundo App, the Telemundo Network, and Peacock. UK viewers can watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
The Betting Markets and Statistical Models
Stats provider Opta predicted that Brazil has a 68.1% chance of winning in Miami on Wednesday. Their supercomputer saw a 19% chance of a draw and gave Scotland only a 12.9% chance of victory. Opta calculated that Brazil are the eighth most likely team to win the tournament overall.
The Current Group C Standings
Brazil and Morocco both have four points, with the Seleção sitting in top spot by virtue of a better goal difference. Scotland are third on three points, with Haiti fourth. The Caribbean nation were eliminated after losing to Brazil last week.
With Group C set to conclude after Wednesday’s match, the simultaneous fixture between Morocco and Haiti will play a direct role in determining the final group standings alongside the outcome in Miami. Scotland are aiming to reach the knockout stages of a major international tournament for the first time and are guaranteed to finish at least third in the group regardless of Wednesday’s result, but a win or draw against Brazil would significantly strengthen their position heading into the round of 32. For Brazil, a win or draw combined with Morocco failing to beat Haiti would secure top spot in the group outright, while any slip-up against a motivated Scotland side could complicate what has otherwise been a steadily improving tournament for Ancelotti’s squad.
The recruitment agency boss shares his tips on getting noticed in a tougher jobs market.
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