Contracts for the allocation of funds for innovative employment programs for 2017, signed on Monday, have secured more than 28 million kuna for 41 applicants to finance the employment of persons with disabilities.
The allocated funds will be used for the procurement and upgrading of new technologies and equipment, investing in the knowledge of persons with disabilities, building or expanding business premises, and covering administrative costs related to the provision of services by centers for professional rehabilitation and transportation costs for persons with disabilities, emphasized Minister of Labor and Pension System Marko Pavić during the signing.
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Congratulating employers who met the criteria, Pavić announced that they intend to open newly renovated premises in Split, the institute and center for professional rehabilitation, by the end of May.
Director of the Institute for Expertise, Professional Rehabilitation, and Employment of Persons with Disabilities Damira Benc stated that they expect, in addition to maintaining the existing number of employed persons with disabilities with employers, that based on the signed contracts, about 30 new persons with disabilities will be employed.
– It is important to point out to employers the opportunities available to them when employing persons with disabilities. We believe that this message will reach those employers who have yet to do so, as every new employment is extremely important for creating a positive employment climate. In this way, public perception of the need to employ persons with disabilities is also changing, said Benc.
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Minister of Labor and Pension System Pavić also stated that the Government is indeed caring for persons with disabilities. This was symbolically demonstrated by the fact that Member of Parliament and person with disabilities Ljubica Lukačić entered the Parliament instead of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, as well as through the continuous development and operation of the Institute for Expertise, Professional Rehabilitation, and Employment of Persons with Disabilities and all other components we share with the Ministry of Demography and Minister Nada Murganić, he added.
The competition has been held for the third consecutive year and significantly contributes to the employment of persons with disabilities, emphasized Pavić, recalling that in 2017 there was more than a 20 percent increase in their employment from the Employment Institute compared to 2016.
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We believe that we will have even better trends with the new law that is currently in the second reading, said Pavić. The legal amendments aim to utilize funds from the quota employment of persons with disabilities primarily to strengthen centers for professional rehabilitation, he added.
The legal amendment stipulates that as of January 1, 2019, the centers will come under state administration and will be additionally financed from these funds. In addition, we have the widest replacement quotas within the European Union and one of the lowest quotas for the employment of persons with disabilities that a company with more than 20 employees must have in Europe. In this way, we contribute to better integration and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labor market and society itself, said Pavić.
