Government and employers seal deal on disabled people’s employment

MoU commits government, social partners to employment of persons with disability

The Employment and Training Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce and the Malta Employers Association have signed a memorandum of understanding set to give impetus to the employment of persons with disability.

Based on 13 points, the agreement lays out the foundation that will lead to further social inclusion at the place of work.

The MoU forms part of government’s commitment to ensure that the rights of persons with disability are safeguarded and are not unfairly excluded from society. Coupled with enforcement, it revamps the 1969 law which was left ignored for decades.

Employers have now been given a year’s time to regulate their position. Failure to comply with the law will see employers give “a contribution”.

ETC chairman Clyde Caruana said positive strides have been made: the employment of persons with disability increased by 200 over the past three years.

Presiding over the announcement of the MoU, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat urged society not to underestimate the significance of the MoU.

“As legislators our job is to ensure the implementation of what we legislate. We achieve stronger results when government and social partners work together,” Muscat said.

He hailed the agreement as one that sent an unequivocal signal that, social justice and economic growth go hand in hand together.

“The most effective method to ensure independence and rights is by ensuring financial independence,” Muscat said.

The Prime Minister praised work undertaken by the previous administration that pushed forward integration at schools. “Today we’re moving forward on the second phase. Integration doesn’t stop at school. We need to continue fighting segregations and ensure integration at the place of work.”

The signing of the MoU coincided with official records confirming the lowest number of unemployed people. Figures show that there are 4,033 persons unemployed, the lowest figure ever recorded.

Muscat said that persons with disability were a resource which would increase the labour supply.

Employment Minister Evarist Bartolo said that economic growth and prosperity created the right environment for economic growth.

“True development comes when prosperity leads to social justice,” he said.

Bartolo said that the agreement reflected a culture that was moving away from charity and towards “a culture of rights”.

The same sentiment was expressed by Anton Borg, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and Arthur Muscat – president of the Malta Employers Association.

They said, that the inclusion of persons with disability was not out of charity but through the understanding that people had something to offer and want to contribute.

Both Borg and Muscat admitted that reaching an agreement had not been easy. Discussion and goodwill were required.

Parliamentary secretary Justyne Caruana described the MoU as yet another step in government’s commitment towards persons with disability.