Article 27
Measures to support employers
Measures to support workers with disabilities
Discrimination
Employment on the open labour market
Employment in the supported / sheltered sector
Employment in the public sector
Employment of blind and partially sighted women
Self-employment
Vocational rehabilitation and training
Incentive measures to employ workers with disabilities
Legal obligation to employ workers with disabilities
Vocational counselling
Main occupations performed by workers with a visual impairment
Looking for a job
Legal recognition of disabled worker status
Trade unions and workers with disabilities
Measures to support employers
The provisions foresee the possibility for employers to be exempted from paying of contributions for three years, if they employ a disabled person, to receive the help for the equipping of workplace, the means for minimal wage for a disabled person for the first year of this person's work, and the enterprises for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities have the right to the subvention for each employed disabled person in the amount of 50% of the average salary in Serbia.
Measures to support workers with disabilities
The provisions foresee the assistance at work for certain period of time, the support for the adaptation of job and of workplace and the support in the professional rehabilitation.
Discrimination
Discrimination in the area of work and employment is formally prohibited, but it exists in practice.
Employment on the open labour market
The incentive measures mentioned apply for the open labour market as well. Blind and partially sighted persons in Serbia are most frequently employed in the open labour market, but in a small number.
Employment in the supported / sheltered sector
A smaller number of blind and partially sighted persons is employed in the enterprises for the professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. These enterprises enjoy the mentioned support by the State. They must employ at least 50% of persons with disabilities. According to the Law on Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities adopted in 2009, there is a possibility of setting up working centres for the employment of the persons with severe disabilities not being able to be employed in the open labour market or in the enterprises for professional rehabilitation and employment. In the work centres, there must be at least 80% persons with disabilities.
Employment in the public sector
Many blind and partially sighted persons work in public administration, public institutions and public enterprises.
Employment of blind and partially sighted women.
Formally, there are no special measures for the employment of blind and partially sighted women. They are formally equalized before the Law with blind and partially sighted men.
Self Employment
There is a small support by the State for the self-employment of blind and partially sighted persons, and other persons with disabilities. the cases of self-employment are rare in the practice.
Vocational rehabilitation and training
The already mentioned Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities foresees the right to rehabilitation, retraining and additional qualification, but it is very rare in the practice. It is most frequently organized by the national Employment service, by the special schools and by the enterprises for professional rehabilitation and employment.
Incentive measures to employ workers with disabilities.
The already mentioned Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities foresees the right to rehabilitation, retraining and additional qualification, but it is very rare in the practice. It is most frequently organized by the national Employment service, by the special schools and by the enterprises for professional rehabilitation and employment.
Legal obligation to employ workers with disabilities
We have already told about the encouraging forms existing for the employment of persons with disabilities. We emphasize that these measures are inadequate.
Vocational counselling.
Vocational counselling for employed and unemployed persons with disabilities are organized sporadically, but this is not sufficient.
Main occupations performed by workers with a visual impairment.
Blind and partially sighted persons work most frequently as telephone operators, physiotherapists, administration workers, teachers, jurists.
Looking for a job
Blind and partially sighted persons most frequently look for a job with the help of the national Employment service, the Union of the Blind and its organizations and through individual activities. There are special sectors for the employment of persons with disabilities within the national Employment Service, but not in its all local branches.
Legal recognition of disabled worker status
Blind and partially sighted persons, as well as the persons with other disabilities, can acquire the disabled worker status according to various provisions. If they do not succeed in it according to other provisions, then they can acquire it according to the Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities. There are experts evaluating the remaining working abilities of persons with disabilities. This service acts within the national Fund for Pension and Disability Insurance.
Trade unions and workers with disabilities.
There are no special trade unions of the workers with disabilities. They are included in the mainstream trade unions. However, the existing trade unions do not provide adequate support to employed persons with disabilities, nor to other employees.