The employment rate of people with disabilities in Catalunya stands at 32.8%, very far from the general 74.1%. The gap is 41.3 points and appears while three workers with disabilities support Obramat's staff in Tarragona with the support of Aura Fundació.
David Carmona, Xavier Jiménez and Kevin Soares work as stockers in the Tarragona store, after going through selection processes and support adapted to the position. The distance between real integration in that warehouse and the prejudices that continue to appear in other companies is revealed in their own testimonies and in those of COCARMI, Pere Claver Grup and Pimec.
Obramat Tarragona integrates three stockers with disabilities and reserves 3% of staff
David Carmona has been at Obramat for a year and explains that he arrived after receiving an offer he considered good. Xavier Jiménez and Kevin Soares joined in November 2025, after a selection process for stocker.
Joan Manuel Robles reserves 3% of the staff for people with disabilities at Obramat Tarragona, a measure that the warehouse director presents as a practice specific to the center. He also maintains that there are tasks compatible with that profile and that there are positions that fit them.
Kevin Soares has been working since he was 14 years old and moved to Tarragona for his father's work reasons, after living in Brazil and Portugal.
The three have found in the store a work environment in which adaptation is not limited to the moment of hiring. Aura Fundació applies a personalized evaluation, adapts the position, and maintains continuous support with a job coach.
COCARMI sees automatic dismissals and Pimec speaks of prejudice due to ignorance
Inma Gómez, technical director of the Catalan Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities, describes still present stigmas in selection processes.
"There are still many stigmas. Companies must be aware of the value that these types of people can bring to their workforces" - Inma Gómez, technical director of the Catalan Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities (COCARMI)
Gómez adds that, when a disability is known during a selection process, many applications are automatically discarded. Ricard Matas, director of the inclusion area of Pere Claver Grup, places prejudice and self-stigma as central pieces of the problem.
The head of Social Policies and Labor Inclusion at Pimec, Maria Àngels Benítez, often attributes it to business ignorance. From Obramat, Robles insists that their warehouse goes beyond what the law requires.
David Carmona recounts that when he started working, some prejudged him because of his disability, although they later found out he could do many tasks. Xavier Jiménez summarizes that experience with a similar idea, pointing out that at first it may seem like you are not good for certain functions, but the team ends up seeing you as one of them.
Kevin Soares started working at 14 years old and is now at Obramat Tarragona, after residing in Brazil and Portugal.
The occupancy rate of 32.8% places Catalonia 41.3 points below the Catalan average, a differential that testimonies from Tarragona help explain from the ground and with proper names.