The National Commission, Persons with Disability, has complained that no enough enforcement is being carried out to ensure that the Equal Opportunities Act, enacted 11 years ago, is respected.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Marianne Debono, an official of the commission, said that several companies and employers were ignoring the provisions of the law, notably on equal employment opportunities and access. 

She said that since 2000, 1,074 complaints had been filed, of which the highest number, 430, involved lack of accessibility followed by 248 on lack of access to educational facilities. There were 117 complaints on employment.

The majority of the complaints were against the government at 392 and 144 against parastatal companies.

There is one pending court case about lack of access to Gzira health centre. (The government has said this health centre will be relocated because of the accessibility problem). 

Commission president Joe Camilleri gave examples of several cases which have been tackled. Among them, he said, the Passports Office had agreed to build a ramp at its Merchants' Street entrance because of numerous complaints about steps to the main door.

Mr Camilleri complained that issues raised by the commission on high pavements were not being tackled quickly enough. 

He said that the commission was also insisting that the Excelsior Hotel, in terms of the law, should have at least 15 of its rooms accessible for wheelchair users. The hotel has 480 rooms but only two are accessible for wheelchair users, Mr Camilleri said.