The Concept and Entitlements of the Unemployed with Disabilities

Abstract

Under Polish law, the disabled who are unemployed are included in the group of the unemployed in a specific situation on the labour market. This means that the legislator recognises the difficulties this group faces in finding suitable employment. It has therefore introduced a number of mechanisms to make it easier for this group to enter or re-enter the labour market. However, making use of them is often hindered by the fact that the person concerned must first acquire the status of a disabled person under the Act on Vocational and Social Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons. He or she then has to meet numerous conditions included in the Act on Employment Promotion and Labour Market Institutions in order to obtain the status of an unemployed person. In principle, the only entitlement that is granted is the priority to be assigned to special programmes. However, district labour offices are not obliged to run such programmes. Therefore, in the Polish legal system there is a large gap in terms of helping the unemployed with disabilities to enter the labour market or return to the labour market. Considering the fact that many employers complain about the shortage of workers, stimulating the professional activity of the disabled could be of huge importance for the country’s economy.