Financial Incentive for Hiring Disabled Workers, Offering up to EUR 32,000 per Employee
In a bid to boost the integration of disabled workers into the labor market, Regione Lombardia and Unioncamere Lombardia have extended their call for proposals on inclusive employment until December 19th. This call, part of Table 68 from Law 68/99, the framework law for the Right to Work for Disabled Persons, aims to bring about a cultural change among businesses and create a more inclusive work environment.
However, the regional assessor for Labour and Education, Simona Tironi, has highlighted that hiring a disabled worker is not just about legislative compliance, but a great value to be inserted into one's company. Despite this, many Lombard companies continue to prefer paying fines for non-compliance, with the daily fine amounting to €196.05.
The Fund for the Employment of Disabled Persons, a regional piggy bank that collects pecuniary sanctions and exemptive contributions from companies for not hiring disabled workers, has exceeded €80 million this year. In 2021, the fund raised approximately €38 million from these fines and contributions.
This high amount collected suggests that there is still much work to be done in terms of employment for disabled workers. The fund is meant to support employment initiatives for disabled persons, encouraging companies to hire workers from protected categories. The philosophy of the call is that people must not only be welcomed but also valued in the work insertion process.
The call for proposals also emphasizes the importance of adequately studying the task to ensure the success of the work insertion process. The practice underlying the call has been agreed upon with associations, employer and trade union representatives.
The regional assessor believes that the approach should be that of added value, not just a formal compliance. Implementing accessibility measures and funding tools to facilitate integration of disabled persons into the workplace might initially seem challenging or costly, but the long-term benefits for both the company and the employee far outweigh these initial obstacles.
The Fund for the Employment of Disabled Persons serves as an indicator of the extent of non-compliance with regulations regarding the hiring of disabled workers in Lombardy. It's hoped that with continued efforts and initiatives like this call for proposals, more companies will come to understand the value of hiring disabled workers and make a conscious effort to do so.
- To fully leverage the benefits of a diverse workforce, it's crucial for businesses to invest in education about the value of hiring disabled workers, potentially taking finance from the Fund for the Employment of Disabled Persons to fund such initiatives.
- The importance of business investment in creating an inclusive work environment extends beyond legislative compliance, as it can lead to improved financial performance and enhanced employee satisfaction, while also contributing positively to the education and employment of disabled individuals.
