As part of the European Year for Persons with Disability, the European Employment Services (EURES) in Malta recently organised a forum in conjunction with the National Commission for Persons with Disability, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The forum focused on the promotion of mobility among workers with a disability.

NCPD chairperson Joe Camilleri said that since the Commission was formed initiatives have multiplied in favour of people with disability. The NCPD has provided society with a focal point in this area.

Mr Camilleri mentioned the first local 'landmark' in the field of employment of people with disability, the introduction of the quota legislation in the Sixties. He then referred to stereotypes which are a threat to society's advancement in this area. Society should ask whether the environment it is creating is helping these individuals to integrate at the place of work and in other areas.

While discussing new entrants in the labour market, Mr Camilleri mentioned the lack of specific career guidance and counselling for persons with disability. So far, the country does not offer these services, which are highly required if we are aiming at increasing the participation rate of these people.

Referring to the employment of people with disability in the private sector, Mr Camilleri said that one should not assume that people with disability are a liability to business. He said there are many cases of success in this field, adding that 70 per cent of people with a disability can easily adapt to the work environment without particular assistance.

EURES manager Raphael Scerri explained the services EURES provided to support workers interested in work opportunities in Europe. Scerri explained the EURES job mobility portal and how it may be of use to employers and jobseekers.

Charles Cassar, senior manager at ETC's Supported Employment Section, outlined initiatives taken by the ETC to facilitate the integration of people in situations of disadvantage. He mentioned work exposure and training schemes provided to ETC jobseekers with a disability. Mr Cassar also referred to the financial assistance given to employers who engage these persons.

For the forum, EURES brought over to Malta a Norwegian employer of a medium-sized company that employs a number of people 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 people with disability very often have corresponsing strengths which more than compensate for this.

Dominic Mintoff from Hotset Malta Ltd spoke about his company's positive experience in employing two employees with disability. Mr Mintoff said these employees are making good progress and are fully integrated with their co-workers at the factory. They are widely accepted and appreciated by both the management and other employees. Mr Mintoff said that Hotset Malta Ltd contacted the two employees through the ETC register. The corporation, he said, provided all the necessary support that the company needed in the recruitment process.