International Thematic Seminar, Bialystok, May 6, 2015 Situation on Alytus County Labour Market- Services Provided to Disabled Jobseekers Agnė Žygaitė EURES adviser Alytus Local Labour Exchange

Facts About Alytus County  It is the southernmost county, and its capital is the city of Alytus.  Alytus County ranks seventh in Lithuania in terms of the population ( inhabitants, 5.1 % of the population of Lithuania).  Area – 5425 km² (8.3 % of the area of Lithuania)  The municipalities in Alytus County are: Alytus City Municipality Alytus District Municipality Druskininkai Municipality Lazdijai District Municipality Varėna District Municipality.

Unemployment rate– 13,2 % ; Unemployed– ( ); job vacancies (1st quarter 2015). Labour Market Situation in Alytus County Population (5,1 % of the population of Lithuania) Working age population (60,6 %) Number of unemployed in municipalities ( )

Unemployment Rate in Alytus County Municipalities Lithuania 9,1% Alytus County 13,2%

People with Disabilities Registered in Alytus Local Labour Exchange  On the 1st of May 2015, it was registered 850 unemployed people with disabilities in Alytus County and they made up 7 percent of all unemployed.  During 2014, 565 new disabled jobseekers have been registered in Alytus Local Labour Exchange.

Active Labour Market Programs for People with Disabilities ACTIVE LABOUR MARKET POLICY MEASURES Support for mobility Supported employment Vocational training Support for creation of new work places Subsidized creation of new work places Support for self-employment Local employment initiatives Subsidized employment Support for acquisition of professional skills Public works Job rotation Active labour market measures are selected and applied to jobseekers, registered within LE, in accordance to balance of individual needs and needs of labour market.

Active Labour Market Programs for People with Disabilities Subsidized employment is organized to ensure employment possibilities for unemployed people with disabilities by paying wage subsidies for employers. Employer for certain period receive wage subsidy for each person employed under subsidized employment – money to co-finance salary and social insurance of the employee. Amount of wage subsidy – not more that 2 MMW –600 EUR. Duration of the measure – till 6 months or till 12 months in accordance to target group of the unemployed. Wage subsidy is paid permanently (but not longer than labour relations) for employers employing disabled with low working capacities. Effectiveness of the measure – number of working for the same employer after the measure or employed within 6 months - 85 %.

Active Labour Market Programs for People with Disabilities Vocational training is organized to the unemployed and employees with notices about dismissal in order to ensure the possibility to gain new qualification or competencies, as well as to improve qualification if it is needed to get employment. Vocational training is being organized in cases of: -tripartite agreements (signed between LE, Employer, Future worker); -bilateral agreements (self-employment or future work places). Labour exchange finances: -training costs up to 1740 EUR (formal training) or up to 870 EUR (informal training) – paid to training institution; -training grant (of 0,7 MMW -210 EUR) – paid to participant; -compensation of travel expenses – paid to participant; -accommodation facilities – paid to training institution. Tripartite agreement responsibilities (main Employer’s responsibilities) - to employ Future worker as according the tripartite agreement; - to maintain worker at least 12 month.

Support for acquisition of professional skills measure is organized in order to ensure employment possibilities for unemployed after training without practical skills, unemployed with long brake in work history. Active Labour Market Programs for People with Disabilities Employer for certain period receive: wage subsidy for each person employed under support for acquisition of professional skills measure – money to co- finance salary and social insurance of the employee; compensation of expenses of organizing acquisition of professional skills. Amount of wage subsidy – not more that 2 MMA – 2070 Lt. Compensation of expenses of organizing acquisition of professional skills – not more than 20 % of wage subsidy. Duration of the measure – till 5 months or till 12 months in accordance to target group of the unemployed. Effectiveness of the measure – number of working for the same employer after the measure or employed within 6 months - 85 %.

Active Labour Market Programs for People with Disabilities Public works – temporary works helping to maintain or develop local social infrastructure as well as temporary works helping to maintain work places in companies having economic difficulties. Employer for certain period receive subsidy for each person employed under public works measure, including: wage subsidy for certain working hours; social insurance; wage expenses for holidays including social insurance. Duration of the measure – not more that 6 months within 12 months period.

Active Labour Market Programs for People with Disabilities Job rotation is organized in order to ensure employment possibilities for unemployed in companies having vacancies in cases of targeted holidays (maternity leave etc.) Employer for certain period receive wage subsidy for each person employed under job rotation measure – money to co-finance salary and social insurance of the employee. Amount of wage subsidy – not more that 2 MMA – 600 EUR. Duration of the measure – till 12 months. Effectiveness of the measure – number of working for the same employer after the measure or employed within 6 months - 60 %.

Support for mobility of the unemployed measure is organized for jobseekers, employed in regions other than living place. Active Labour Market Programs for People with Disabilities Measure can be applied in case if travel expenses per month exceed 20 % of monthly salary. Compensation for accommodation and travel cost per month could not exceed 1 MMW – 300 EUR. Duration of the measure – till 3 months. Effectiveness of the measure – number of working for the same employer after the measure or employed within 6 months - 75%.

Active Labour Market Programs for People with Disabilities Need of professional rehabilitation services is confirmed by DISABILITY AND WORKING CAPACITY ASSESMENT OFFICE. Professional rehabilitation services are provided by institutions corresponding requirements set by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour. Professional rehabilitation program cover: Costs of professional rehabilitation program; Accommodation, meals and travel expenses; Professional rehabilitation benefit. Average duration of the program – 6,3 months. Effectiveness of the measure – number of employed within 6 month after the end of professional rehabilitation program - 40%. Professional rehabilitation – possibilities for the disabled to develop or restore working capacities and to increase employment.

Active Labour Market Programs for People with Disabilities 3. Support for self-employment is organized in order to ensure creation of own work place and to promote self-employment. 2. Project of local employment initiatives (VUI) – projects of creation of new work places in order to focus on efforts of local community and social partners to increase employment in certain regions as well as in order to develop local social and economic infrastructure. 1. Subsidized creation of new work places is organized in order to promote creation of new work places for disabled unemployed. Employer, participating in support for creation of new work places measures, receive co- financing of expenses for creation of work place. Work places created should be maintain for at least 3 years. Subsidy (for creation of 1 work place) could not exceed 40 MMW – EUR. Effectiveness of the measure – 95 % of work places created are maintained for 3 years.

Active Labour Market Programs for People with Disabilities The aim of Social enterprises is to employ and maintain workers with low professional and physical working capacities, economically inactive, not able to compete in the labour market. Support for social enterprises: ◦ so-financing salaries and social insurance of target workers employed in social enterprises; ◦ subsidies for creating of new work places – up till 40 MMW– EUR; ◦ training of targeted workers; ◦ cover expenses to adapt work and leisure environment, industrial and leisure facilities for disabled workers; ◦ cover expenses for transportation, additional organizational expenses; ◦ cover expenses for assistants (sign language interpreter).

Disabled People Participating in Active Labour Market Programs  During the first three months of 2015, 219 new disabled jobseekers have been registered.  On the 1st of May 2015, 70 disabled jobseekers are participating in active labour market programs.  In 2014, 194 people with disabilities participated in active labour market programs, 101 found job with the help of LE.

Thank you for attention Alytus Local Labour Exchange Vilniaus st. 21, Alytus LT-62112, Lithuania Tel