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“People with disabilities can do excellent things if they are employed in the right job and are therefore a valuable potential for our company,” said Doris Hummer, President of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce, at a media event on Wednesday. On average, 8,000 people with health impairments are taken in by local companies every year. But there is still enough potential here, said Hummer, and the “gradual reintegration” should now be promoted with the state of Upper Austria.
The state of Upper Austria as an employer is already achieving “very good success” in terms of inclusion, said Governor Thomas Stelzer (VP). Around 25 people with disabilities are currently employed in the state service, and around 50 are added every year.
In a comparison of the federal states, the state of Upper Austria is already playing a “pioneering role” in terms of support for people with disabilities and participation in the labor market, said Social Provincial Councilor Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer (VP). “But we want to get even better, they should get a place in the middle of society.”
Together with the Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the social department is now starting a structured participation process, which should deliver concrete recommendations for action by the end of the year. The aim is to improve the participation of people with disabilities in the labor market, said Hattmannsdorfer. In particular, employment directly in companies and placement in the first job market should now be promoted.
The basis for this process is a study by the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) and a survey of clients. The result was that companies would like better information about the employment of disabled people and professional support for support in the company. As the study also revealed, clients need both better permeability between the different forms of employment and, if necessary, a possibility to retreat to the protected area.
Source: Nachrichten
