The Government's decision to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities came into effect on March 18. The State Employment Service and the Ministry of Economy initiated these changes at the request of employers.
Employers will now be able to receive compensation for adapting workplaces for their employees who are veterans with disabilities and are returning to their jobs. Previously, the program only covered those employers who employed employees with disabilities and adapted workplaces for them.
In addition, compensation can be received by self-employed persons, individuals - entrepreneurs with disabilities, including those resulting from war. Thus, veterans returning from military service to civilian life after injuries will be able to receive such compensation if they wish to restore their business, start a new one or develop an existing one.
The list of means for which compensation can be obtained has also been expanded. Hardware, software, and services for translation from/to Ukrainian sign language, both offline and online, have been added.
The deadline for submitting an application for the arrangement of an inclusive workplace has been increased from 90 to 180 days from the moment of employment of a person with a disability or the return of a veteran to their workplace or the arrangement of a workplace for themselves.
This is an important step forward so that veterans with disabilities can return to their workplace, which was reserved for them during their military service. And so that this workplace is already adapted and equipped taking into account their needs. This is the modern inclusive approach to organizing the workspace. It is not only about the restoration of professional activity, but also about dignity, gratitude, equal opportunities and most importantly - social rehabilitation and self-realization.
To receive compensation, an employer, individual entrepreneur (IEO), and self-employed person must:
- log in to the Diya portal using a KEP;
- fill out an application: indicate data about the person with a disability and the adapted workplace;
- attach documents confirming employment, purchase of assistive devices, and a document confirming the employee/individual entrepreneur/self-employed person's disability;
- indicate the IBAN of your account;
- sign the application with the CEP.
You can also apply for compensation offline at regional employment centers.
On average in Ukraine, the cost of one such equipped place is 78 thousand UAH (maximum for group I - 120 thousand UAH, for group II - 80 thousand UAH). During the program, employers have already purchased the following for the arrangement of such workplaces: tactile materials for floor and staircase equipment; stair crawler lifts, lifting platforms, electric stacker for employees in wheelchairs; wheelchairs with electric drive; specialized lighting (lamps); specialized furniture and accessories for adapting workplaces; computers with built-in eye protection devices; specialized workstations (computer, specialized monitor, etc.) for employees with visual impairments; communication equipment and specialized accessories for employees with hearing impairments.
Employed people with disabilities hold various positions, for example: advertising agent, economist, accountant, teacher, legal advisor, occupational safety engineer, farm manager, system administrator (IT), medical registrar, clerk, driver, tractor driver, mechanic, etc.
Employers who apply for such compensation are representatives of various industries, for example: production of footwear, refrigeration units, ventilation equipment, machinery and equipment for agriculture and forestry; food production; agriculture (raising animals and grain crops), etc.