1 Modernisation of disability-related Health & Social Services: The Way Ahead Public Affairs afternoon organised by the European Platform for Rehabilitation – EPR Brussels December 11, 2008

2 Who are we? LOGO WORKCHANCE Association of Labour Market Service Providers Budapest/Hungary

3 which was founded on a voluntary basis by 11 Hungarian organizations public benefit social organization with a democratic autonomy, legal entity operating as an association, regulated by its articles of association adopted in a democratic way by its member associations, on the territory of the Republic of Hungary, having both ordinary and supportive members.

4 Founders Hand in hand Foundation ( Hold my Hand Foundation ( Szimbiózis Foundation( )‏ ‘For the rainmen’ Association ( )‏ Hungarian Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability ( Spiritusz Foundation ( Motivation Foundation for Helping Disabled People ( Regional Social Resource Center Public Company ( )‏ Round World Welfare Foundation ( ) Association of Disabled People Helping Each Other( )‏ Budapest-Bethel Epilepsy Centre Foundation ( )‏

5 Our mission to increase employment rate of disabled people through developing labour market services in Hungary, the neighbouring countries and within the European Union to achieve that employers recognize the benefits of the employment of disabled people and its social importance

6 Our mission (+) to build a society in which everybody can live and work in a harmonious environment, adequate to his/her human dignity the basis of which is the creative human being and its communities and the free will of people which grants secure standard of living and equal access which provides prosperity to the next generations, the protection of the living and inert environment as well as the values of the past

7 In order to reach our goals we are building a national network we perform methodological developments represent the interests of our member associations and provide services to them

8 Our primal core objective is to extend the workplace integration of our target group of people with disabilites

Other core objective of the Association To raise employment rate of disabled people through development of labour market services on the territory of Hungary, the neighbouring countries and the European Union furthermore to reach that make employers recognise the advantages and social importance of the employment of disabled people.

10 Actors who are involved in the integration of the target group Labour Market Service Providers (mission determined in the interest of the target group integration)‏ The Government (to promote commitment to improve the standard of the target group employment) The Employee (to achieve life purposes, to ensure decent living conditions)‏ The Employer (to provide economical labour force, in accordance with their job competency expectations)‏

11 Possible disadvantages of employing people with disabilites according to certain employers Efficiency problems may arise They require more serious attention – fear from plant accidents Additional costs may arise – e.g. elimination of obstacles Organizational problems may arise – e.g. part-time employment Additional obligations emerge – e.g. accreditation

12 Concrete goals of our labour market services To prepare the target group to be in conformity with the expectations of the employers To convey economical and suitable labour force easily available to employers To form the general view with the purpose of a wider social integration of the group To make an active influence on the legal circumstances of employment, at the same time, to coordinate the interests of the target group, the service providers and the employers

13 Tasks of our labour market service providers Keeping contacts, providing information Assessment, preparing individual improvement plans Preparation to the employment Organizing test periods of work Conveying jobs Preparation at the workplace Follow-up activity

14 The services we provide to employers Analysis of job competencies, assessing job competency needs Counselling on how to eliminate obstacles, ergonomic counselling Providing assistance in the preparation of the equal opportunity plan Providing assistance in the accomplishment of the accreditation process Legal counselling Organization of test periods of work at the employer Conveying labour force to employers Providing assistance in fitting the work process and work equipments to individual capabilities Service of employee transportation

15 Lobby to promote better employment conditions To qualify certain products as protected, to create protected jobs and workshops Costs of wages, by decreasing social security taxes Compensation of employment costs Partial or complete assumption of sick-allowance Supporting the elimination of obstacles at work places Compensation of the costs of access to the labour market services

16 Changing views with respect to each actor of the process It is possible by breaking down all social prejudices concerning people with disabilities by giving up stereotype role-expectations by strengthening varicolored society policies by establishing and spreading flexecurity

17 Our Public Benefit Activities Scientific activity and research Promotion and support of social equal opportunities and social integration of disadvantaged groups Promoting the training of people with disadvantages on the labour market – including labour exchange and related services Promoting Euroatlantic integration Providing information, organizing cultural activites Protection of human and citizen rights Consumer protection Our Association ensures its services provided as a public benefit activity to all of its members and partners.

18 We accomplish our activities by ensuring the quality of our services, by taking efficiency into consideration, based on the principle of partnership. Our medium-term task is to extend the network of our service providers to establish the sustainability of providing labour market services

19 Our Association keeps contact with domestic and international Labour Market Service Providers and intends to cooperate, as far as possible, in their projects accomplishes its work according to a quality management system, employs methods, philosophies and know-hows which are the good practices of foreign partners makes efforts to strengthen cooperation, to establish partnerships with similar Associations of Labour Market Service Providers operating within the European Union

20 Thank you for your attention. WORKCHANCE Association of Labour Market Service Providers Budapest/Hungary Zoltán Bodnár dr.