Ministry of Social Policy: President signs European integration law to expand opportunities for inclusion of people with disabilities in the labour market

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed Law No. 4219-IX, which changes approaches to the employment of people with disabilities, providing them with equal opportunities in the labour market and a support system. The document implements paragraphs “g” and “i” of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“This Law is an important step towards creating real opportunities for people with disabilities in the open labour market. Businesses will be able to implement a full cycle of support: from employment to creating favourable conditions that take into account the interests of all parties, as well as supporting people with disabilities in the workplace. This brings us closer to European standards, opens up new prospects for the integration of people with disabilities and helps them to realise their full potential. I would like to thank everyone who was involved in the preparation of the draft law and supports this important process – MPs, experts and the public,” said Oksana Zholnovych, Minister of Social Policy.

The main innovations include:

• expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities, which include state and local authorities;
• ensuring the provision of social support services in employment and at the workplace, as well as personal assistant or sign language interpreter services;
• introduction of a targeted contribution to the fund to support the employment of people with disabilities as an alternative to administrative and economic sanctions for failure to meet the employment standard for this category.