Anyone who visits the Spar branch in Asten has the usual shopping experience – walk through, put the goods in the basket or cart and pay. Invisible to customers, however, an important contribution to inclusion is made here: people with disabilities are trained here via the “Perspektive Handel” initiative, a cooperation between Spar and Caritas. After completing their training, the participants are very quickly taken on by regular branches of the chain.
The cooperation has existed for 15 years. “Many trained employees are now strengthening our teams and have become valuable, long-standing colleagues,” says Spar Upper Austria Managing Director Jakob Leitner.
“Living inclusion every day”
Integration Councilor Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (VP) describes the project on the occasion of today’s International Day of People with Disabilities as exemplary. “Upper Austria is characterized by a strong economy. Where, if not here, should people with disabilities have the opportunity to work. An inclusive labor market not only increases equal opportunities, it also harbors economic potential,” says the Provincial Councilor.
The World Day is a good opportunity to deal with inclusion – but one should not limit oneself to that. “Thanks to many dedicated Upper Austrians and organizations, we live inclusion every day,” says Hattmannsdorfer. The State Council is currently focusing on the integration of people with disabilities into the labor market. A topic that numerous organizations in Austria also took up on the occasion of World Day: Caritas and Lebenshilfe, for example, draw attention to discrimination against people with disabilities in the workplace.
According to Caritas, many are classified as unable to work after school, and they are often denied access to the regular job market for the rest of their lives. Many people with disabilities still work in workshops where they receive a small amount of “pocket money” for their work. “The work we do should finally be recognized as an achievement. This also requires fair payment, including pension insurance,” says Roland Kainz, self-representative of Lebenshilfe Oberösterreich.
Source: Nachrichten
