– The project will help develop instruments to support people with disabilities on the labour market, make it easier for them to set up businesses and help employers - said Deputy Minister Paweł Wdówik, Government Plenipotentiary for Disabled Persons, during a press briefing.

Work gives independence

Deputy Minister Wdówik recalled that many people with disabilities want to and can take up employment. He pointed out that professional activity of this group of people is a key issue in the government's document Strategy for the Rights of People with Disabilities. - As of 2018, we have managed to raise the employment rate to 30 per cent, but we want it to be even higher - said Deputy Minister Wdówik.

He stressed that work gives people with disabilities financial independence. In addition, benefit recipients become tax payers, which can be used, for example, to help those whose disability prevents them from working.

Project partners

The Polish Association of the Deaf is testing a Communication Centre, which allows people to obtain information from the labour market through a sign language interpreter, as well as "Bon na start" - a temporary bonus for people with disabilities who have found a job.

The Polish Organisation of Employers of Persons with Disabilities wants to extend vocational guidance for those interested in hiring people with disabilities and has prepared a draft of a voucher for inclusion and an employment guarantee to retain an employee who has obtained a disability certificate or whose disability has worsened.

The association "Time Space Identity" wants to support those people with disabilities who want to start their own business, among other things through accessible and flexible subsidies and the support of personal assistants. The business incubator aims to bring together higher institutions and communities that can assist in starting up such businesses.