A specific list of professions and specialities for the employment of persons with disabilities is planned not to be included in the Individual Rehabilitation Programme (IRP) to provide disabled individuals with broader opportunities for obtaining employment. The expediency of such an innovation has been proven during a pilot project, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection informed a BELTA correspondent.
A specific list of professions and specialities for the employment of persons with disabilities is planned not to be included in the Individual Rehabilitation Programme (IRP) to provide disabled individuals with broader opportunities for obtaining employment. The expediency of such an innovation has been proven during a pilot project, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection informed a BELTA correspondent.
The project was implemented from April to December last year in Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Volkovysk District of Grodno Region, Borisov District of Minsk Region, Gorki District of Mogilev Region, Pervomaisky District of Minsk. It was aimed at refining the interaction between the medico-social expert commission (MSEC) and state employment service bodies in assisting disabled individuals with employment. The project outcomes were summarised at a meeting with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Ministry of Health, the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre for Medical Expertise and Rehabilitation, and disabled persons' public associations.
As explained by specialists, the MSEC assesses the possibilities for professional and/or vocational rehabilitation of disabled individuals. In the IRP of a disabled person, the MSEC specifies the list of professions (specialities) for which the disabled person can work. However, situations often arise where the job the disabled person wishes to take is not included in this list. Consequently, the person is forced to reapply (or even multiple times) to the MSEC to correct their vocational recommendations.
During the project implementation, the IRPs did not list the professions and specialities for which a disabled person could work, but rather contraindicated adverse production factors (noise, height, etc.) or the need to organise special working conditions for the disabled person.
Following the discussion of the project results, it was noted that the cancellation of specific lists of professions and specialities in individual rehabilitation programmes provides disabled persons with broader employment opportunities. Furthermore, a decrease in the number of appeals to the MREK (Medical-Social Expert Commission) for the purpose of adjusting individual rehabilitation programmes was observed.
It was deemed expedient to implement this innovation into the practice of employment services and healthcare authorities.
Last year, the employment service of Belarus assisted nearly 2,000 disabled persons in finding permanent employment, as reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Employment Policy Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.
Annually, approximately 5,000 disabled persons with employment recommendations and a desire to work apply to labour, employment, and social protection authorities. About 40% of them find employment.
Currently, 539,000 disabled persons reside in the country. Over the past five years, 262,200 individuals have been recognised as disabled for the first time.