Inclusion at work: Berlin invests 35 million equal opportunities!

Inclusion at work: Berlin invests 35 million equal opportunities!

Social interaction and equal opportunities for people with disabilities are a central topic in today's society. The State Office for Health and Social Affairs (Lageso) supported inclusion at the workplace in Berlin with EUR 35 million from the compensation tax in Berlin. These expenses have increased by around eight percent in the past two years. Employers with at least 20 jobs are legally obliged to fill at least five percent of these positions with severely disabled people. If you do not meet this requirement, you are obliged to pay a compensation tax.

The income from this levy is used to promote the participation of severely disabled people in working life. Alexander Straßmeir, President of the Lageso, emphasizes the successful use of the investments that flow into programs and measures so that severely disabled people can take part in professional life on an equal footing. This includes in particular the creation of new jobs and the disabled -friendly design of existing jobs.

challenges on the job market

In Germany, around 10.4 million people live with disabilities, of which 7.6 million are severely disabled. Despite these figures, only half of them are employed or has completed training. The unemployment rate of people with disabilities is almost 11 percent, while in people without disabilities it is only 5.7 percent. 1.6 million people with disabilities are not integrated into the labor market. This is further difficult by the legal requirement, since 45,000 employers do not employ severely disabled people, although this is required by law.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities, which came into force in 2009, recognizes inclusion as a human right. Despite the legal framework, there are still prejudices and uncertainties among employers. Marion Winger, Rehabilitation consultant, emphasizes the need to clarify the employer on the employer to promote their openness and to advance inclusion in the world of work.

foggy integration in companies

Examples of successful integration show that with the help of the employment agency, many people with disabilities can find their place in professional life. Dariean Bahr, who sits in a wheelchair due to a spinal cord infarction, switched to the office area with the support of his employer, the Dachser company. The Employment Agency helped the creation of a barrier -free workplace and assumed a large part of the costs for the necessary conversions.

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann, the employer of Bahr, emphasizes the social responsibility of his company and points out that the entire process took seven months from planning to work. Regular votes with the employment agency were crucial.

social relevance of inclusion

The participation of people with disabilities in working life is not only important for those affected, but also for society as a whole. It not only offers financial security through its own income, but also promotes social contacts and self -confidence. A higher profit participation has a positive effect on the state budget and contributes to securing income in working -free life phases.

Nevertheless, the people concerned continue to face major challenges. The causes include psychological stress, stigmatization and mobility restrictions that make their integration into the labor market difficult. In order to overcome these obstacles, comprehensive measures are necessary to improve the part of the employment of people with disabilities.

The efforts to include an inclusive world of work show how important social responsibility, education and support from programs such as the compensation tax are. This is the only way to achieve real equality in working life and the creation of an inclusive environment for all people.

For further information about the inclusion of people with disabilities at work and the existing challenges, you can visit the following links: Agency for work , bpb .