Tripartite council discussed the draft disability act

The employers in the National Tripartite Cooperation Council did not support the draft Disability Act. They are opposed to mandatory quotas for employing people with disabilities in the private sector. Social Minister Bisser Petkov once again defended the law with the argument that the texts introduce equal opportunities for labour and integration of people with disabilities.

After an hour of debating, employers said they would not support the darft law because the system for assessing the incapacity to work through decisions of work capability assessment commissions has proved to be corrupt and the mandatory quotas for hiring people from business will be ineffective.

Vassil Velev, Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria: Introducing high fines equivalent to "people with disabilities" tax for employers who do not meet the quotas is a solution in the wrong direction. This is about obligation and sanctions, not incentives and support for people with disabilities themselves.

Dimitar Brankov, Bulgarian Industrial Association: The burden falls mainly on small enterprises with over 50 people staff. 4% is the quota for them. To these mandatory quotas proposed by the darft, we have to add the existing employability obligations, which vary from 2 to 10% for different economic activities.

The trade unions also split in their positions. According to Podkrepa, thedarft lawl does not change anything. CITUB is of the opinion that time should be given to see the effect of the changes.

Vanya Grigorova, Podkrepa trade union: These quotas are rather wishful, they are stillborn, as there is a text that says quotas will not work if alternative measures are applied. It is not clear what is meant by alternative measures, but obviously opens the possibility that they will not be implemented.

Asya Goneva, Confederation of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria: We will see what the practice will show us. I believe the step is in the right direction.

In addition to the quotas, the draft law takes into account the demands of protesting mothers of children with disabilities for having an individual assessment of the needs of people with disabilities, a national system, financial assistance based on the poverty line and two supplementary support programmes.

Bisser Petkov, Minister of Labour and Social Policy: One is to assist employers, respectively, to provide funding for the adaptation of jobs for people with disabilities. Another national programme is to fund projects for more accessible housing, personal mobility. To this end, the government provides additional 150 million BGN for social activities.

Despite the disagreement of the employers, the draft disability law will be subject to discussion at the Council of Ministers tomorrow, 17th of October, and by the end of the week in the National Assembly. The aim is for the draft law to be adopted by December.