In an interview with Helsingin sanomat newspaperMinister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen (left) said that Finland should set a quota for employers to hire disabled workers.
Sarkkinen argued that the quota would address the low employment rate of the disabled and partially disabled, which leads to economic problems, poverty and exclusion.
"Only 15 to 20 percent of people with disabilities work, although many others have the ability, training and desire. It is a big deviation that the right of this group to work in Finland is not understood," Sarkkinen told HS.
According to Sarkkinen, it would be good to remove the magazine from Germany’s disability employment legislation. According to the law, an employer who does not meet the disability quota must pay a monthly fine.
However, the proposal must be studied, and it cannot be implemented during this election period, Sarkkinen pointed out. The minister said that the details of the model – such as the application threshold, the quota and the level of fines – should be negotiated with the social partners.
Sarkkinen said that he expects that his proposal will be met with objections, because the Finnish Confederation of Business and Industry EK has constantly opposed the obligations and fines burdening new companies.
Many stones were left unturned
In the current election period, the government established a state-owned special task company, "Work channel", employs partially disabled people and decided to increase its wage subsidy. However, Sarkkinen is not convinced of the adequacy of the actions taken so far.
A Slovenian minister explained the quota model already implemented in their country at the EU meeting, Sarkkinen said, where he got the idea.
"I didn’t know that there are such quotas in some European countries. It opened my eyes to see that several countries have taken great steps to implement the right to work. In Finland, many stones have been left unturned."
Source: The Nordic Page