At yesterday’s session of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the reports of the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities for 2023 and 2024 were adopted. Along with them, the Parliament adopted the reports of the Management and Supervisory Board of the Fund, as well as the Report on the execution of the financial plan.
Before adoption, the reports were discussed in the competent parliamentary bodies – the Committee for Labor and Social Policy and the Committee for Economic and Financial Policy.
The Director of the Fund, Ahmet Baljić, emphasized that the Fund fully realized the planned activities in the reporting period. “Key measures included the announcement of public invitations with incentives for new employment of persons with disabilities, implementation of employment sustainability programs, professional rehabilitation and development of employment in organizations of persons with disabilities,” Baljić pointed out.
The results of the Fund confirm the efficiency in working with beneficiaries. “We processed more than 8,000 requests within the legal deadlines, and refunds were paid within 15 days of submitting the request. We responded to all the requests of organizations of people with disabilities and provided them with the necessary support,” he added.
However, Baljić warns of long-term systemic challenges. “Even after 15 years since the adoption of the law, effective control of employers’ compliance with legal obligations still does not exist. The labor market shows little interest in employing people with disabilities, even with increased incentives. Socially irresponsible employers still do not employ people with disabilities or fulfill legal obligations to pay contributions. People with disabilities often find refuge in organizations and protective workshops. Non-enforcement of the law in the part of controlling the payment of special contributions is no longer a legal issue, but a question of employers’ social responsibility,” he warned. is Baljic.
He added that it is urgently necessary to find a legal solution, because otherwise the pressure of refunds can threaten the maintenance of the current level of employment.
“I use this opportunity to invite you to pass a new law on professional rehabilitation, which would solve this issue in a systemic way and ensure the long-term stability of the employment of people with disabilities,” concluded Baljić.
