1. Employment of disabled people in Bulgaria – problems, trends and perspectives Ralitza Pandurska Irina Danailova University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria

2. 1. Definitions: There is no common international definition, but usually it is accepted at state level and can change in time; There is contradiction between social and medical approaches of definition; According to Bulgarian legislation disability is every loss or breach of the anatomical structure, physiology or mentality of individuals (Law of integration of disabled people). Person with disability is everyone, independent of their age, with physical, sensitive or mental damage, that makes difficult their social integration and participation in public life, their possibilities of communication and education or labor realization.

3. 2. Legislative framework Bulgarian Constitution; Labor code; Social insurance code; Health law; Law of integration of disabled people; Social assistance law; Stimulating of employment law; Law of healthy and safety work conditions; National Strategy for Equal Opportunities of Disabled People, related to European Union’s recommendations and Standard Rules of United Nations, European Social Charta;

4. Characteristics of National Strategy for Equal Opportunities of Disabled People The document is dedicated to children and adults with disabilities as well as to their families; The aim of this strategy is to accelerate the integration of people with disabilities; Make society perceive them like individuals with equal rights, but with different possibilities; In the National Strategy are proposals are made about legislative changes that have to facilitate life and social integration of people with disabilities.

5. 3.Institutions involved Ministry of labor and social policy; Ministry of health; Disabled people Agency; Agency of social assistance; Employment agency; National council for integration of disabled people; Municipal government bodies; National represented organizations of disabled people; National represented trade unions; National represented employer’s organizations; NGOs; Social companies; Etc.

6. 4.Analysis of problems of disabled people in Bulgaria – various aspects: 4.1.Demographical - after the last counting of the population made in 2001, the total number of people with disabilities is 256 353. Disabled people in Bulgaria are divided in three groups – with disability between 50% and 70.99% (approximately 70 000 individuals), between 71% and 90.99% (approximately 190 000 individuals) and more then 91% - 135 650 individuals.

7. 4.Analysis of problems of disabled people in Bulgaria – various aspects: 4.2.Economical – the majority of disabled people rely on their pensions for disability and state subsidies. Pensions for disability are very low and are related to the rate of disability and minimum rate of old ageing pension 124,84 lv.(63.69 euro) They can also take advantage of tax reduces and social benefits. As in many cases disabled people earn very low income, they are subject of social assistance.

8. 4.Analysis of problems of disabled people in Bulgaria – various aspects: 4.3.Social – isolation is one of the biggest problems of disabled people. Difficult access to environment, absence of facilities in schools, inconvenient work places and public transport obstruct their active participation in social life. This is the reason for high unemployment rate of disabled people – 14 414 individuals or 5% of all unemployed for 2007. Their educational profile shows that disabled people without professional qualification or elementary education is very high. Unemployed women with disabilities are more than men.

9. 5.INCREASING EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PEOPLE PROGRAMS: National program: “ASSISTANTS OF DISABLED PEOPLE”; National program: “EMPLOYMENT AND PROFFESSIONAL TRAINING OF PEOPLE WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES”; Program: “EMPLOYMENT OF TEACHERS IN EDUCATION OF DISABLED CHILDREN”.

10. According to Law of integration of disabled people, this could be achieved through work in various fields: Prevention and rehabilitation of disabilities; Education and professional training; Access to environment; Labor market; According to Stimulating employment law wages, social contributions, education, grants for disabled people are completely or partially financed by Agency for disabled people.

11. CONCLUSIONS: Financial crisis reflects negatively on labor market and in particular on one of the most vulnerable parts of the population – people with disabilities; Disabled people’s problems are still unresolved and often they are in social isolation, because of their health condition, unfavorable architecture and social environment, prejudices in the society and employers’ lack of comprehension; Inefficiency of educational and professional training systems is a reason of low employability of disabled people;

12. CONCLUSIONS: Weak flexibility of Bulgarian labor market does not allow disabled people to be employed in part time; People often think that disabled people are an inefficient labor force, whose productivity is lower than productivity of other people and this could cause losses for the company. Measures taken by the State about increasing employment and restriction of disintegration of disabled people are insufficient and inefficient and their unemployment rate is high.

13. Measures for increasing employability of disabled people: Presenting problems of disabled people to the society and breaking the cliché that they are inferior in the labor; Improving educational system to prepare employers in areas with workers deficit. Disabled people could be employed in professions appropriate to their possibilities; Elimination of architectural barriers for this group of individuals and increasing their mobility; Popularization and adaptation of programs for flexibility in the labor market and employing people with disabilities in part time or home work;

14. Measures of increasing employability of disabled people: Making legislative reforms for “positive discrimination” of disabled people and stimulating employers to hire them; Progress in professional training and motivation systems that help people with different needs to find a more appropriate job to disclose their labor potential; Consulting, mediating and informing disabled people and employers about potential possibilities; Organizing a special transport service with appropriate vehicles for disabled people from their homes to work places; Making and popularizing psychological consulting offices for disabled people for reducing social isolation and stimulating social contacts between them.

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