Poor response to employment scheme

An Employment and Training Corporation scheme for supported employment for persons with disability will be introduced next January, Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi said.

Dr Gonzi said the scheme was tailor-made so that employers would be given funds when they employed persons with disability.

But, he stressed, employers needed to look at "abilities in a person, and not disabilities".

He was addressing a seminar on the Disabled and Employment at the Access complex which brings under one roof various social and employment services at Vittoriosa.

The seminar was organised by the ETC and the Elderly and Community Service Department to mark the UN Day for Persons with Disability, yesterday.

Dr Gonzi said that contrary to what used to happen so far, jobs offered under the new scheme would be on a permanent basis.

The scheme would be funded by the European Social Fund administered by the European Union.

Dr Gonzi said the ETC was continuously being faced with the problem that certain employers looked at disability when they came to employ disabled persons, and not their abilities. He said many of these persons were emerging from an integrated educational system which gave them a good education level.

"This barrier has still to be overcome," Dr Gonzi remarked.

Jennifer Debono, ETC senior executive for supported employment, explained that the ETC was seeking support from employers and would be encouraging them to participate in the scheme.

Only five employers responded to 500 invitations asking companies to join the scheme, Ms Debono said.

Dr Gonzi said that one of the most important achievements during this year, International Year of the Disabled, was the introduction of flats for disabled persons at the former Vajrita Hotel, in Marsascala. The initiative would bring peace of mind to parents of disabled persons who were preoccupied with the future of their disabled children when the parents passed away. The concept of these flats was that persons with disability could live a life of their own but with all the necessary support. Dr Gonzi said the first floor was already occupied and the second floor would receive tenants soon.

At the end of the seminar Dr Gonzi unveiled a monument made from pottery by persons with disability attending the Adult Training Centre. The monument, showing a globe representing unity, was unveiled to mark the International Year of the Disabled.