That people with disabilities are included in work tasks and the regular labor market, rather than projects, is the goal they strive for in Archimedes, one of the companies that over the past years has disabled people among its employees.
"PWDs are hard-working and loyal employees, and the ultimate goal of all employers must be to find the right workplace for the right person, including PWDs, who are hard-working and loyal employees," said Dejana Ponoš, director of Archimedes, from today's "Employment Perspective" conference PWDs in Montenegro and examples of good practice".
The conference is the final event of the multi-month project of the Center for Civic Education (CGE), during which 10 persons with disabilities were employed for half a year by employers, including Cazas, Green Home, the Office of the Protector of Human Rights, and the Center for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro. .
The CGE recalled an earlier survey according to which 82 percent of citizens believe that the position of PWDs is worse compared to other citizens.
Director of the Center for Civic Education (CCE) Daliborka Uljarević said that PWDs are at the top of the discrimination ladder and added that society has to work hard to remain tolerant and inclusive.
In that first, Uljarević clarified that the improvement of their status on the labor market, i.e. the provision of a higher level of employment and improvement of their position in society, has a great impact on adequately addressing social exclusion of PWDs.
"Through the exercise of the right to employment, opportunities are created for easier access and the exercise of all other rights," emphasized Uljarević.
According to her, in addition to the economic benefits of employing PWDs, it also represents their personal empowerment, through the development of a sense of self-reliance and accomplishment.
"That's why the project aimed to contribute to overcoming the challenges to the employment of PWDs, starting from deep-rooted prejudices towards work and their professional capacities, through the informality of potential employers to encourage measures in the employment of PWDs, as well as through the reluctance and fear of PWDs to actively look for work and include into the labor market", said Uljarević.
Unemployment, as she said, is a cause and effect, which affects not only them but also society.
"We have to change that and point out examples of good practice in order to motivate others," said Uljarević.
The director of the Employment Agency, Suljo Mustafić, said that since 2014, eight public calls worth 13,5 million euros have been published.
"Over the years, more than 1.000 PWDs have been employed through projects, 40 percent of whom have extended their work engagement," Mustafić said.
It was also announced at the conference that since 2014, when employers can receive subsidies for the wages of people with disabilities, their number has increased significantly.
Stanko Laković from the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation ZZZCG said that in 2014 that number was 92, while today 660 employers use the possibility of receiving a subsidy for the earnings of PWDs.
"In five years, great progress has been made, not only in the number, but also in the structure of employers, so it is no longer just NGOs that fight for the rights of PWDs," said Laković.
The Ombudsperson's office said that a large number of complaints by PWDs on various grounds is also evident.
This, among other things, speaks of an increase in the level of awareness of PWDs and organizations dealing with these issues, said Dina Knežević from the Office of the Protector.
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