Employing people with disability
Around 70 per cent of persons with a disability can easily adapt to the work environment without particular assistance, according to Joe Camilleri, the chairman of the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD). In the past 20 years, since...
Around 70 per cent of persons with a disability can easily adapt to the work environment without particular assistance, according to Joe Camilleri, the chairman of the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD).
In the past 20 years, since the NCPD was formed, initiatives have multiplied in favour of persons with disability. The first local landmark in the field of employment of persons with disability was the introduction of the quota legislation in the 1960s.
However, there is still much to be done. Mr Camilleri said that stereotypes were a major threat to society's advancement in this area.
"Society should ask whether the environment we are creating is helping these individuals to integrate at the place of work and in other areas," he said.
"New entrants in the labour market lack specific career guidance and counselling. So far, the country does not offer these services, which are very necessary if we are aiming to increase the participation rate of people with disability."
Mr Camilleri said many people had been employed in the private sector with marked success.
The Employment and Training Corporation has a section dedicated to the integration of people in situations of disadvantage, run by senior manager Charles Cassar. There are a number of measures in force, including work exposure and training schemes provided to ETC jobseekers having a disability. Financial assistance is also given to their employers.
A seminar was recently organised as part of the European Year for persons with disability by the European Employment Services (EURES) in conjunction with the NCPD.
For the seminar, EURES brought over to Malta a Norwegian employer of a medium-sized company who employs a number of persons with disabilities. One of these employees, Mika, was present for the forum. Mika has been looking for a job unsuccessfully for many years because of his disability. The Norwegian employer said that he employed Mika not out of charity but because he clearly had the greatest potential of the 63 people he interviewed. Speaking from experience, the employer said that persons with disability very often have corresponding strengths, which more than compensate for the disability.
The representative of a company in Malta, which employs two persons with disability, said they were making good progress.
Dominic Mintoff, from Hotset Malta Ltd, said the employees were fully integrated with their co-workers at the factory. Hotset found the two employees through the ETC register. The corporation, he said, provided all the necessary support that the company needed in their recruitment process.
In the past 20 years, since the NCPD was formed, initiatives have multiplied in favour of persons with disability. The first local landmark in the field of employment of persons with disability was the introduction of the quota legislation in the 1960s.
However, there is still much to be done. Mr Camilleri said that stereotypes were a major threat to society's advancement in this area.
"Society should ask whether the environment we are creating is helping these individuals to integrate at the place of work and in other areas," he said.
"New entrants in the labour market lack specific career guidance and counselling. So far, the country does not offer these services, which are very necessary if we are aiming to increase the participation rate of people with disability."
Mr Camilleri said many people had been employed in the private sector with marked success.
The Employment and Training Corporation has a section dedicated to the integration of people in situations of disadvantage, run by senior manager Charles Cassar. There are a number of measures in force, including work exposure and training schemes provided to ETC jobseekers having a disability. Financial assistance is also given to their employers.
A seminar was recently organised as part of the European Year for persons with disability by the European Employment Services (EURES) in conjunction with the NCPD.
For the seminar, EURES brought over to Malta a Norwegian employer of a medium-sized company who employs a number of persons with disabilities. One of these employees, Mika, was present for the forum. Mika has been looking for a job unsuccessfully for many years because of his disability. The Norwegian employer said that he employed Mika not out of charity but because he clearly had the greatest potential of the 63 people he interviewed. Speaking from experience, the employer said that persons with disability very often have corresponding strengths, which more than compensate for the disability.
The representative of a company in Malta, which employs two persons with disability, said they were making good progress.
Dominic Mintoff, from Hotset Malta Ltd, said the employees were fully integrated with their co-workers at the factory. Hotset found the two employees through the ETC register. The corporation, he said, provided all the necessary support that the company needed in their recruitment process.