Financial support offered to businesses hiring employees with disabilities, with a maximum of €32,000 per disabled worker
In the heart of Italy, Lombardy is taking a significant step towards promoting inclusive employment for disabled individuals. The Fund for the Employment of Disabled Persons, a legal entity in the region, has surpassed €80 million this year, a large portion of which is due to fines imposed on non-compliant businesses.
The Fund, a source of financial support for companies that hire disabled workers, is a means of enforcing regulations regarding the hiring of disabled workers in Lombardy. The Regional Labor and Education Assessor, Simona Tironi, explains that the objective of the call is not just to comply with legislation, but to recognize the value of hiring disabled workers.
Many Lombard businesses, however, prefer to pay fines rather than hire disabled workers. This mindset is primarily due to perceived difficulties and costs associated with accommodating disabled employees, inertia in changing hiring practices, and a lack of awareness or incentives to integrate disabled workers.
To address this issue, various measures are being implemented. Authorities enforce laws requiring businesses to hire a certain quota of disabled workers and impose fines for non-compliance to encourage legal adherence. Some regional and national initiatives offer financial incentives, subsidies, or support services to businesses to facilitate hiring and integrating disabled workers, making it economically and practically easier to comply.
Efforts to change attitudes towards disability employment include education campaigns and training for employers to reduce stigma and demonstrate the benefits and feasibility of hiring disabled individuals. Encouraging adaptation of workplaces to be more accessible ensures disabled employees can work effectively, reducing employer concerns about logistical or productivity issues.
The call for inclusive employment, initiated by Region Lombardia and Unioncamere Lombardia, aims to bring about a change in mindset within the community. The philosophy of the notice is that people should not only be welcomed but also valued in the hiring process. The perspective should be that of added value, not just formal compliance in the hiring of disabled workers.
The Regional Labor and Education Assessor, Simona Tironi, explains that the call aims to bring about a cultural change among businesses. "We want to encourage businesses to see the value in hiring disabled workers, not just as a legal obligation, but as a valuable contribution to workplace diversity and inclusion," she says.
The call for inclusive employment has been extended until December 19, offering businesses in Lombardy a chance to embrace this change and reap the benefits of a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The hope is that this initiative will not only benefit the region but will serve as a model for other parts of Italy and beyond.
The Fund, a financial resource for businesses that employ disabled workers, is utilized as a means of enforcing regulations regarding the hiring of disabled workers in Lombardy. Businesses, who currently favor paying fines over hiring disabled workers, are encouraged to change their mindset by recognizing the value in a diverse and inclusive workforce, an objective emphasized through the call for inclusive employment.
