19th September 2023
The latest public opinion survey reveals that attitudes towards employees with disabilities in Lithuania are improving. Over 59% of respondents stated that it makes no difference to them whether a colleague has a disability, as long as the work is performed adequately. Additionally, 20% of respondents indicated that they would not mind if a colleague with a disability required extra attention.
Lithuanian Public Employment Service reports a positive shift in labor market indicators for people with disabilities, noting a trend towards faster integration of clients with disabilities into the open labor market. The average duration of unemployment for this group has decreased by a factor of 1.5. Amendments to the Law On Employment, which came into force at the beginning of this year, have significantly contributed to this progress, creating more opportunities for people with disabilities to join the workforce.
Despite these positive developments, the employment rate for people with disabilities in Lithuania remains low. Only about 29% of working-age individuals with disabilities are employed, compared to the EU average of 51%. Lina Cicėnaitė, a lawyer at the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson and a member of the Commission for the Monitoring of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, views these statistics as a supportive message to employers. She suggests that improving employment rates for people with disabilities involves addressing various factors, including the lack of universal design in cities and infrastructure. However, she emphasizes that employer attitudes are crucial. ‘It is clear that societal attitudes are changing and that colleagues with disabilities are no longer a uncommon occurrence. People are open to providing extra attention and help. The natural next step is for employers to open their doors to a greater diversity of employees,” Lina Cicėnaitė stated.
Every year, the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson receives complaints and inquiries about discrimination on the ground of disability in employment. Over the past few years, 13-24% of all complaints of discrimination on ground of disability have been related to employment. According to Lina Cicėnaitė, the issue is significant: “The Office has repeatedly found employers violating the Law on Equal Treatment by rejecting job applicants with disabilities. We have also had a case where we found an employer harassing an employee because of their disability.”
However, Lina Cicėnaitė highlights some positive trends, noting that employers sometimes seek advice on how to recruit people with disabilities and the appropriate procedures to follow. She anticipates an increase in such inquiries following the implementation of an amendment to the Law on the Fundamentals of Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2024. This amendment will introduce quotas for employees with disabilities in public sector institutions.