Unemployment Rampant Among Disabled Persons in Serbia

A recent survey conducted by Centre for Development of Inclusive Society and Centre for Study of Alternatives shows that 87 percent of the disabled persons in Serbia are unemployed, while 70 percent live in poverty, due to low income they make. The results also show a greater percentage of women with disabilities, compared to men, live with the status of dependent persons.

Vesna Bogdanovic, CRID Director, says that only two percent of the disabled persons got opportunity for employment, while 25,000 of them are registered with the National Employment Service.

�Disabled persons also have less opportunity for quality education, the lack of Law on Inclusive Education in Serbia contributing to their being separated, as a rule, in special classes and schools�, says Bogdanovic.

According to a survey conducted in 2001, incorporated in a study titled Disabled Persons and their Environment, edited by Prof. Viktorija Curic, over 70 percent of the disabled persons have very low income and would fall into the category of poor population, should we apply the current criteria.

More than a half of the income consists of various allowances resulting from their disability (disability allowance, help and assistance, welfare). The causes for poverty lie, above all, with the limited opportunities for education and the low employment rates among the disabled.

The main obstacles faced by disabled persons when seeking employment have to do with existing stereotypes and prejudice, lacking or insufficient personal assistance services, architectural barriers, limited offer of part-time jobs they could get.

CRID representatives estimate that the society should create a climate favourable to employment and self-employment of disabled persons, in order to transform them from passive recipients of assistance into active members of society.