The money is intended to finance projects that enable people with disabilities to enter the labor market and provide them with regular wages and social security.
Kocher wants a quick system change
The long-term goal is to enable disabled people in special employment relationships to receive a salary including social security instead of pocket money, which would also make them entitled to pensions themselves. Discussions regarding a change in day-care facilities in the states will continue, it was said in the press foyer following the Council of Ministers with Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) and VP club chairman August Wöginger. Labor Minister Martin Kocher (ÖVP) said in a press release that they wanted a system change quickly, but that this would require good preparation, the involvement of all stakeholders and the development and implementation of pilot projects.
Around 28,000 people with disabilities currently work in such supervised workshops. They are insured once morest accidents for their work and, depending on the federal state, receive pocket money of 35 to 100 euros per month – but no actual wages. According to a study, a change would cost countries around 190 million a year. The Minister of Social Affairs explained the current initiative by saying that he did not want to wait until a solution might be found in the next financial equalization.
Full social security
Therefore, the 36 million is a first step towards implementation. The affected people should receive fair remuneration for their work, be covered by social insurance and be entitled to a pension. New or existing projects in the countries should be funded. Rauch might not say how many people will receive a salary in the future. However, those affected will receive full social security and no pocket money but rather a salary.
The Council for the Disabled expressly welcomed the measure and, in the person of Vice President Martin Ladstätter, expressed optimism that the starting signal for important change had been given today. Lebenshilfe saw a crucial milestone on the way to realizing a long-standing demand. Reference was made to a pilot project in Carinthia that has been running since the fall of the previous year.
“Step towards a more inclusive society”
Diakonie director Maria Katharina Moser explained that wages are paid there according to collective agreements and that employees are also protected under the Equal Opportunities Act. This solution should become widespread through the provision of financial resources. Caritas recognized today’s decision as a step towards a more inclusive society.
Basically there are three target groups. People who work in companies where the workplace is individually tailored to them can initially benefit. They will then receive remuneration for this activity in the future and will be covered by social security. Accessibility is ensured either by the company itself or through free support offers from the Ministry of Social Affairs.
“Social policy milestone”
It also concerns people with disabilities who are still cared for in institutions or who work as part of a non-profit temporary employment agency, but who are active in groups within the framework of employment or training contracts in the regular labor market or in municipal offices. Finally, there are those target groups who work within the structure or organization of their institution within the framework of employment or training contracts.
The exact criteria of the guideline will be developed in the coming weeks together with the states and self-representations of people with disabilities. At the same time, existing AMS offerings for the inclusion of people with disabilities from day-care facilities in the labor market will be further developed. These include, above all, integration assistance with increased funding intensity. Of the 36 million from the federal government, 30 come from the Ministry of Social Affairs and six from the employment service. Wöginger saw the press foyer as “another socio-political milestone for people with disabilities” following the expansion of personal assistance.
