Commission concerned by employment problems of persons with disabilities
The National Commission, Persons with Disability, has expressed concern that not enough jobs are being made available for people with disabilities.
Commission chairman Joe Camilleri said that not only were persons with disability finding it difficult to find jobs, but the jobs they were eventually given were normally well below the level of what they were capable of doing.
The concern was shared by Social Policy Minister John Dalli who said the problem appeared to stem from stereotypes and prejudice which still existed.
"Many employers still think that persons with disabilities are less capable, take a lot of sick leave and need special equipment, but the work of the commission shows otherwise. What you need is adequate support and flexibility," the minister said.
"We are not expecting anybody to be paid for 40 hours a week while actually working for 20. This is about flexibility," Mr Camilleri said.
The comments were made during the launch of the commission's annual report this morning.
The report shows that last year there was a 59% increase in applications for the Blue Badge for reserved parking for persons with disabilities. However 18 percent of applications had not been recommended by the commission, an increase of 50% over the previous year. Twenty-nine appeals were lodged but 69% were rejected.
He said that in order to deter abusive use of the blue stickers, the commission as of last year started collecting the stickers of those who passed away. A total of 146 were collected last year.
Mr Camilleri complained that the commission was not regularly receiving from MEPA plans for major buildings to be vetted to ensure that there was accessibility for wheelchair-bound persons. In 2008 the percentage of buildings certified according to the commission's guidelines dropped from 95% to 56%.
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Charles Sammut
Mar 17th 2009, 18:09
There are employment problems for everybody, whatever their abilities. It is called a recession and not discrimination.
Karm Zammit
Mar 17th 2009, 14:47
There once was a legal requirement that all firms must employ a number of registered disabled person, calculated as a small percentage of their headcount. Is this legal requirement still active?
Muscat.Pat
Mar 17th 2009, 13:46
I cannot undersand how private owners are supposed to comply with the Commissions regulations, when the government's own clinics and department do not comply. Secondly, one must distinguish between what one WISHES to do to help people with disability, and what one can AFFORD to do. So a young barber who is opening up a salon on the first floor is supposed to fork out thousands for a lift and for disability toilets plus wider doors etc, whilst the tools for his profession namely scisssors and hair dryer plus chair cost only a couple of hundred? I know no person with disability who was refused service at home by any tradesman. These dragonian regulations exist only in Malta. People with disability can be better served if access to Government and Church premisses are according to a set standard; so should the LARGER malls and shops, but if the small ones are included it would be a waste of money. A business friend of mine had to fork one 50 thousands Euros for lifts toilets ramps etc to make his offices disability compliant. NO disabled person ever visited his place during the last 5 years. Does this make sense?
Philip Grech
Mar 17th 2009, 13:32
The KNPD's observation also raises the issue of how disabled people are being prepared for employment.
The physical and adminsitrative barriers in education hold back many of the sensorial and physically disabled, though notably some make it through to a career. As to the intellectually disabled and those with learning difficulties, precious little is being done to prepare them for the workplace. Most of them are being left behind. Secondary education and beyond has to be geared to preparing ALL citizens for life; too much time, resources and talent is being wasted in not working towards that goal.
In times of recession even more care and attention has to be given to this sector, as people are our biggest asset, always.
alexandervalenzia
Mar 17th 2009, 12:59
so what is new? been like this and will always remain so. no changes will happen. not enough votes to sell that can swing an election.
years back i remember on a tv programme which was presented by John Bundy an official of ETC openly admitted that it was easier to find work for a rehabilitated drug addict than it was for a person with a disability. Notwithstanding the law which states that a fixed percentag eof a firms workforce is to represent persons with a disability.
by the way a person becomes a drug addict - self imposed and is not born with it.
E.Vella
Mar 17th 2009, 11:27
Well the commission must more be concerned with the lack of accesibilty in the Junior College for persons with wheelchair and the lack of facilitators at the University. Why a student must be concerned of his future becaue of lack of accesibility and physical help?