Employers who do not abide by a law stating that two per cent of employees – in companies with over 20 workers – have to be disabled, must contribute €2,400 annually for each disabled person not employed.

This “courageous” measure seeks to ensure a 1967 law, which has never been enforced, is finally respected.

Since employing disabled workers is not possible in all lines of work, those employers who cannot comply will, instead, have to pay an annual contribution capped at €10,000. This will be phased in over three years.

The government will build 10 new residential homes for disabled people

The money will go into an integration fund used for employment and training of disabled people. Those who employ a disabled person will be exempt from social security contributions for that employee and will be eligible to claim a tax deduction on profits equivalent to the disabled person’s wage. The maximum credit cannot exceed €4,500 for each employee. These were among several fiscal measures aimed at boosting the employment of disabled people. The Budget announced that disabled people who find a job would be able to retain their full disability pension.

People suffering from the condition neuro myelitis optica, an autoimmune disorder, will be entitled to a disability pension.

Next year, the government will spend €500,000 for disabled people to carry out scanning of public documents in a measure expected to generate 80 jobs in Gozo.

The government will build 10 new residential homes for disabled people in the community – three a year. Works have already started on a home in Siġġiewi.

It will also roll out a project to make structural changes to homes of disabled people so they can continue living in their home. Respite services will be improved and include fostering-like services. Services provided by day care centres will be extended and refurbishment works will start on seven homes run by Sapport agency.

There will be a tax exemption on inheritance left to disabled people in trusts and foundations.

Amendments will soon be presented in Parliament to review the composition of several boards and entities to ensure a better representation of disabled people.