17 jobs for people with disabilities will be created in the Vitebsk region by the end of the year
Since 2009, Belarus has had the opportunity to finance jobs created for people with disabilities from the Social Protection Fund of the Population.
– Employers are reimbursed for the costs of creating jobs, compensated for expenses for existing or retained vacancies for people with disabilities, and costs for adapting to work activities. In addition, people with disabilities are provided with subsidies for organizing entrepreneurial, craft, and agro-ecotourism activities, – reported Irina Matveeva, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee – Head of the Population Employment Department.
Since the financing was introduced in 2009, 2010 became the most indicative year in this regard. In the Vitebsk region, 67 jobs were created (more than 103% of the target), not only in enterprises of public associations of disabled people but also in organizations of the budget sphere. Holders of diplomas found their application: computer operator, accountant, salesperson, shoemaker, woodworking master, ceramic art object maker, seamstress, and others.
Specialists of the labor, employment, and social protection departments of city and district executive committees are constantly seeking new ways to ensure employment and job placement for people with disabilities.
Thus, as of January 1, 2017, 237 people with disabilities were registered with the employment services of the region. Over eight months, 490 people with disabilities were registered as unemployed, 205 were employed, including 91 people against reserved quotas (a total of 288 jobs were reserved).
To enhance the competitiveness of people with disabilities in the labor market, they are sent for training and retraining. Over 8 months, 22 people with disabilities acquired new specialties – boiler operator, computer operator, accountant, and others.
Irina Matveeva noted that people with disabilities are increasingly finding employment in temporary jobs. From January to August, 46 people participated in paid public works.
The state welcomes the desire of a person with a disability to start their own business. The employment service provides consultative, methodological, and gratuitous financial support in the form of a subsidy for organizing entrepreneurial activities to citizens registered as unemployed with the labor, employment, and social protection department.
– Increasingly, people choose crafts for their businesses. This is not surprising, as today engaging in a craft is the most accessible employment with the lowest commercial risks. While in 2016, subsidies for these purposes were provided to 5 unemployed individuals, in just 8 months of 2017, four have already received them, – emphasized Irina Viktorovna.
Some make everything that can be made from wood: wells, benches, canopies, gazebos, various equipment for keeping birds, animals, bees, and so on. Others are engaged in weaving, sewing, knitting, making soft toys, decorative items, and accessories from fabric, leather, and other materials, while others take up a hammer and earn a living through blacksmithing.
– There are opportunities to receive preferences from the state; in all other respects, the human factor plays a significant role, – noted Irina Matveeva. – It is important that the desires and capabilities of people with disabilities, employment service specialists, and employers coincide. This is the key to the successful integration of people with disabilities into society.