The draft law on amendments to the Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities (OSI) should be withdrawn from further procedure, because it reduces the scope of rights for employers who employ persons with disabilities.
This was assessed at the session of the Independent Mechanism for the Promotion, Protection and Monitoring of the Implementation of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Montenegro (IMM).
The session, as announced by the institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, discussed the work plan and program for this year.
It is recalled that the NMM consists of representatives of ten organizations of persons with disabilities and associations of parents of children with disabilities, as well as a representative of the institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms.
The session, which was held in Podgorica, was attended by all members, and the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms Siniša Bjeković, as reported, gave full support to the work of the NMM and announced the initiation of meetings with the leaders of all three branches of government.
"At the session, the NMM took the position that the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities should be withdrawn from further procedure, because it reduces the scope of rights for employers who employ persons with disabilities," the statement said.
It was assessed that the solutions from the Draft Law, in addition to discouraging employers from further employing PWDs, would also lead to a reduction in wages and job losses for PWDs who were previously employed.
"Such consequences would further deepen the social deprivation and marginalization of people with disabilities, who according to indicators make up 30 percent of the total number of unemployed people," the statement said.
It is added that the failure to include PWDs and their representative organizations in the process of planning and creating the disputed amendments, the lack of basis for the Draft Law and the explanation on relevant analyses, data and other measurable and clear indicators, are just some of the reasons why the NMM will request the suspension of further procedures and the formation of a new working group.
It was concluded that policies, laws and other regulations must be created and adopted with the full involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, at all stages.
"And that the state is obliged to take all measures with the maximum use of the resources at its disposal with the aim of progressively realizing the guarantees from the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities," the statement added.
NMM is, as announced, an important factor in the promotion, protection and realization of the rights of persons with disabilities.
"It has been recognized through the draft Law on the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms, which, as the protector said, will complete the legal and financial framework and enable its sustainability," the statement says.
It is stated that the NMM will continue monitoring visits to educational, social and health care institutions, as well as residential institutions, in the current year.
It is added that visits to the "Komanski most" Institute, the Podgorica Early Development Center, and the "1. jun" Resource Center for Education and Training will begin on Monday.
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