Employment of people with disabilities rises to over 5,600, minister announces
Thirteen years ago there were 1,699 persons with disabilities registered in the workforce; now there are 5,649
The number of persons with disabilities registered in the workforce has increased by more than threefold when compared to 2012.
The announcement was made by the Employment Minister, Byron Camilleri and the Inclusion Minister, Julia Farrugia, during a visit to the Lino Spiteri Foundation on Friday.
According to the Government press release, in 2012, there were 1,699 persons with disabilities registered in the workforce, compared to the 5,649 today.
The Lino Spiteri Foundation supports the sustainable employment of persons with disabilities by assisting both those seeking employment and employers.
During the visit, the ministers had the opportunity to meet several staff members of the foundation, who explained their work with various companies and persons with disabilities to ensure integration in the labour market.
Farrugia and Camilleri also had the opportunity to see the training classes offered by the Lino Spiteri Foundation, aimed at preparing persons with disability for employment.
Currently, 14 people are benefitting from training with the Lino Spiteri Foundation and in November, 10 more will start.
Employment Minister Byron Camilleri. Photo: DOICamilleri said over ten years, 1,400 people have been supported by the foundation, and 88% of whom have secured a form of employment.
"A total of 1,162 individuals have also benefited from the job coaching offered by the foundation," he said.
He added that with the new Labour Migration Policy, companies that do not comply with the law regarding workers with disabilities will not be able to go through the process of bringing in workers from third countries.
The government has enforced that legally, companies with more than 20 employees are required to hire persons with disabilities to meet a two per cent workforce quota.
He said between June and September, when the measures came into effect, 227 companies paid this contribution, collectively amounting to around €1 million. He said the funds were used to provide training by the Lino Spiteri Foundation.
Inclusion Minister Julia Farrugia on Friday. Photo: DOIOn her end, Farrugia said Malta has a strong policy that focuses on the individual and their right to be involved in the workforce.
"Between 2018 and today, we have managed to train around 300 persons with disabilities for the workforce through the INC programme, financed by the European Union, along with the ongoing Way Up to Work programme through Agenzija Sapport," she said.
"Furthermore, through a strategy that brings together various stakeholders and workplaces, the CRPD has trained over 18,000 workers on workplace inclusion between 2020 and 2025 to prepare for more inclusive work environments.”