ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses two main changes of the Sheltered Work Act (SWA): the ideational change to 'include more people in society' and the managerial change to increase municipalities' responsibility for the implementation of the SWA. These policy changes do not stand alone but can be viewed in the context of broader international changes in social policies, specifically the trends of 'social inclusion' and 'New Public Management'. The chapter focuses on the impact of the policy changes of SWA on the roles and strategies of sheltered work companies. It looks at the changes that relate to the SWA specifically and not to the Participation Act. The chapter explores the extent local sheltered work (sw)-companies have adapted their strategies and positions in compliance with these changes. It provides the necessary background information about the context of sheltered employment in the Netherlands. The municipalities in these cases still heavily relied on the management of sw-companies to formulate the future strategy of organisation.
