The NGO Mozaik from Nikšić expressed "deep concern" about the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, which, they said, "is not only unfounded", but also "directly threatens" the rights of persons with disabilities, deepening their social exclusion.
"This Draft Law is being passed without conducting the necessary consultations with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, which is contrary to the principles of inclusive decision-making. This ignores the real need to improve the system of support and employment of persons with disabilities, while the explanation of the amendments primarily states the increase in expenditures and the number of employers who use the right to subsidies. Such an approach implies that the increase in the number of employers who employ persons with disabilities is viewed as a problem, instead of additionally stimulating the employment of this vulnerable category," the statement reads.
They recall that Montenegro ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, committing itself to the progressive realization of their economic, social and cultural rights.
"With these legal amendments, the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Dialogue is doing exactly the opposite - it makes it more difficult to employ people with disabilities, increases the risk of their losing their jobs and contributes to their further marginalization. By excluding people with disabilities from the decision-making process, the Ministry has published a Draft Law that was not previously discussed at the session of the Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - the key consultative body of the Government. This procedure clearly demonstrates the attitude of the authorities towards people with disabilities and the neglect of existing mechanisms of cooperation with the civil sector. We appeal to the competent Ministry to urgently withdraw the Draft Law and suspend the public debate until a comprehensive analysis of the effects of the current law is conducted, with the active participation of people with disabilities and their organizations. We also demand that the Rulebook on the conditions, criteria and procedure for exercising the right to subsidies, which was adopted without respecting procedures and consultations with key stakeholders, be repealed," it added.
They called on the authorities to show "real commitment to human rights principles" and to make decisions that will contribute to greater inclusion, rather than further discrimination against people with disabilities.
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