The Malta Employers' Association has reacted to comments by the prime minister about some employers being reluctant to engage persons with disabilities - despite provisions in the law - saying the public sector itself is notoriously short of the quota.

"Were the government to try to fulfil its quota obligations there will not be enough persons with a disability on the ETC register to satisfy the demand," the MEA said.

The MEA said it welcomed the government's effort to get as many willing persons with a disability into productive employment in companies employing more than 50 employees. It said it had always supported all efforts to adhere to the 2% persons with disability employment quota required by legislation.

"As such nothing stood in the way of government to insist on a full enforcement of these obligations on employers, including the public sector according to the original law which was enacted in 1969," the MEA said.

"It would be exemplary were the public sector to take the lead, and similar to so many private sector companies, fulfil its obligations in respect of the quota," it added. 

It pointed out that recent amendments to the law, pushed through without any consultations with the social partners, contain serious shortcomings which will not help the attainment of the objective set in favour of persons with a disability.

"Through these amendments ETC seem more intent on collecting so called obligatory ‘contributions’ from employers, to be paid into the Lino Spiteri Foundation rather than creating job opportunities to disabled persons willing to work," the MEA said.