Further safeguards to be introduced to fight abuse in employment of disabled

Employment minister Evarist Bartolo said the proposed amendment to the ETC Act that would allow employers to request the identity of their employees with a disability, was based on genuine concerns and that it would not come without further safeguards against discrimination.

“Although I am sure there would be no such cases, further safeguards would be put into place,” he said.

During the press conference, Bartolo also said that 75% of the 360 people registered as having a disability, had registered as unemployed during the past year.

“The fact that people with a disability are feeling encouraged to seek employment and to integrate with society is very encouraging,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference held at Farsonsdirect, Bartolo hailed the company as ‘exemplary’ in various aspects, including and in particular in terms of employment of people with a disability.

“The best thing about the company is its desire to be socially responsible, “ he said stressing that the company had not needed incentives or quotas in order to enforce this mentality.

Bartolo told this newsroom, that although they were getting something of a bad reputation, employers had largely been highly supportive of employing those with a disability.

Referring to protests to the 2% disability quota becoming enforced by law, Bartolo insisted that the feeling towards those with a disability was still supportive, but that employers were genuinely concerned about health and security issues.

“The concerns are all genuine and well-thought out,” he said, adding that they were not being capricious.

Farsons Chairman Louis Farrugia said that there were around 30 people with a disability working at the company which employs some 400 people in total.

“Some of thems are not registered as having a disability,” he said, adding that the conpany would be wokring closely with ETC to know the identity of those registered.

“We pride ourselves in being good at following laws for health and safety measures, as well as in employing people with a disability” he said adding that the agreements with dar il wens had been in place prior to the quota becoming law.

CEO Norman Aquilina said that success was not measured just by financial achievements but also by the company’s contribution to society.