Disability rights campaigners gathered in Aberdeen yesterday to protest against a company that carries out benefit assessments on behalf of the government.
The rally, part of a UK-wide protest, took place outside the Atos Healthcare base in Union Street.
Protesters said they wanted to draw attention to “unfair and wrong” fit-to-work assessments conducted by the firm.
An Atos spokeswoman said the company respected people’s right to protest but it was not responsible for welfare policy.
David Forbes, chairman of disability charity Future Choices, said: “We are protesting at the way the work-capability assessments are carried out. It is completely wrong and it is not fair on those being assessed.
“It has been proved that it is not fit for purpose. In a lot of cases, they are saying disabled people are fit for work when they are not. Being forced to go back to work is wrong. The whole thing is a disgrace.”
Mr Forbes said the charity was calling for people to be assessed by their GP rather than a private firm.
He added: “This is someone they trust and feel comfortable with. As a charity, we are seeing a huge rise in people coming to us concerned about this. This cannot continue and something needs to be done.”
Atos has been criticised heavily for the way it carries out work-capability assessments, which are used to gauge eligibility for employment and support allowance (ESA) and incapacity benefit.
It is estimated that more than 40% of people who have appealed being deemed fit to work have had that appeal upheld.
The Atos spokeswoman said the company was well aware that an assessment for benefit entitlement could be difficult.
She added: “However, lobbying against Atos Healthcare will have no impact on welfare policy. It is not, nor has it ever been, the role of Atos Healthcare to make decisions on who can or cannot receive benefits.
“We carry out assessments following strict guidelines and criteria written by government. For the parts of the process we are responsible for, we work hard to treat people with care and respect and constantly improve our service.”