• LAW ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION 

Although there are various legal obligations for employers in the Republic of Croatia, data still shows that persons with disabilities (PWDs) are not equally represented in the labor market. Inequality is particularly evident during job applications and testing, when PWDs are not in an equal position, even though they are legally guaranteed employment under equal conditions, which affects the results of the testing and ultimately the selection of the best candidate for the job.

The Act on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Disabilities is a law that protects people with disabilities in the world of work. The law prescribes the rights that persons with disabilities have in relation to professional rehabilitation, employment and work, as well as the conditions that employers must comply with.

The Act on Amendments to the Act on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities (Official Gazette, No. 32/20) was adopted in 2020, which supplements the Act on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities and describes special circumstances that could not be predicted and that could not be influenced, all for the purpose of preserving jobs and maintaining employment.

Although employing people with disabilities is a major problem, it should also be mentioned that attention should also be paid to cases of job retention when disability occurs during working life.

Employers should implement reasonable workplace accommodations for persons with disabilities so that they can demonstrate their knowledge and competencies to perform the job and their abilities for a specific job.

If you are a person with a disability or an employer planning to employ a person with a disability, the Vocational Rehabilitation Act is certainly a document that will help you exercise your rights and duties when establishing an employment relationship.

The entire Laws can be found at:
https://www.zakon.hr/z/493/Zakon-o-profesionalnoj-rehabilitaciji-i-zapo%C5%A1ljavanju-osoba-s-invaliditetom
https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_03_32_696.html

• BROCHURE “GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS”

The Croatian Employment Service (CES) is a state institution that plays a major role in the employment of Croatian citizens, including persons with disabilities. CES, in partnership with the Institute for Expertise, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities (ZOSI), implements the "Work Training Program for Persons with Disabilities in Sheltered Workplaces within Sheltered Workshops and Integrative Workshops in the Republic of Croatia". Sheltered and integrative workshops facilitate the employability of persons with disabilities who need additional training, support and workplace adaptation in the employment process.

Vocational Rehabilitation Centers (CPR), ZOSI and CES are services that, independently and in cooperation, provide services within their own scope of work, contributing to a greater number of employment of persons with disabilities through various education, training and cooperation with potential employers. ZOSI develops a model of vocational rehabilitation, and CPR implements it. CES refers persons to CPR in order to further train and acquire competencies and increase their chances of entering the world of work.

The Croatian Employment Service has created a Guide for Employers "How to Hire a Person with a Disability?". The brochure gathers in one place all the information that employers need regarding the possibility of employing persons with disabilities. The brochure begins with the Professional Rehabilitation Act and the Croatian Employment Service, and then goes into more detail about the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities and other possibilities.

You can find the guide here: https://www.hzz.hr/UserDocsImages/Kako_zaposliti_OI.pdf

• FILMS ABOUT EMPLOYED PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 

In December 2021, a total of 125,715 unemployed persons were registered with the Croatian Employment Service, of which 6,179 were persons with disabilities who had been registered for more than a year. Of this number, 29% of these persons have no recorded work experience.

Although the current data is not optimistic, below we provide links to films that refute these statistics. Through the films we provide examples of how people with disabilities can be excellent workers and, with reasonable adjustments, can be equal members of the collectives in which they work and in the society in which they live.

        1. "WE ARE EMPLOYABLE"

Through five stories about employment, Luka, Ivana, Tomislav and Marina, Roland and Kristina introduce us to the variety of challenges faced by people with muscular dystrophy, whether they are on the open labor market, employed in an association or self-employed.

The film "We Are Employable" was produced by SDDH as part of the project "Support to Inclusion" and was premiered at the Open Doors Day of NGOs 2021.

You can find the film on the SDDH YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi1SZjw5Pi0

       2. “MIND ABOVE PREJUDICE”

The story of the abilities and possibilities of employed persons with disabilities, as well as the perspectives of employers and the fears and prejudices that arise from ignorance of the work potential of persons with disabilities, is the subject of a film about employment, which highlights the perspective of employment of persons with disabilities, to which diversity makes a significant contribution. The film was made with the aim of encouraging the employment of persons with disabilities.

The full film is available on the SOIH YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU201i2iXDY

• REGULATION ON INCENTIVES FOR EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

The Ministry of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy has issued an Ordinance prescribing the conditions and methods by which employers can obtain incentives for employing persons with disabilities, which are provided by the Institute for Expertise, Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities.

The Regulation entered into force on January 1, 2021.

The regulation is available at: https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_12_145_2804.html

• REASONABLE WORKPLACE ADJUSTMENT 

People with disabilities can realize their potential and be effective in the workplace if they are provided with working conditions and the prerequisites for equal participation in the labor market.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by the Republic of Croatia in 2007, reasonable accommodation means necessary and appropriate adjustments and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, in order to ensure, in an individual case, where necessary, the equal enjoyment or exercise of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. The provision of Article 7, paragraph 1. of the Act on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities (OG 157/13, 152/14 and 39/18, 32/20) stipulates that persons with disabilities may be employed on the open labour market or under special conditions, with the obligation to ensure reasonable accommodation by the employer when conducting tests and/or interviews within the framework of the competition procedure and the obligation to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace, conditions and organisation of work. 

The Handbook with Recommendations for Reasonable Workplace Adjustments includes applicable advice and demonstrates the application of reasonable accommodation in everyday work and communication with persons with disabilities. It is intended for professionals, employers and all those who work directly and indirectly with persons with disabilities, as well as persons with disabilities themselves.

You can find the full manual at: https://www.hzz.hr/novosti-priopcenja/izdan-iii-dio-prirucnika-s-preporukama-za-razumnu-prilagodbu-radnog-mjesta.php

• EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE MEDIA 

Important information about the employment of people with disabilities was the subject of numerous radio and TV shows.

Radio Hodalica is a show that summarizes all current events for young people and students with disabilities, and it airs every Thursday on Radio Student. You can listen to a podcast of one of the shows, in which an employee of the Institute for Expertise, Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities (ZOSI) guest speaks in more detail about employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and quota employment, at: https://www.mixcloud.com/RadioStudent/hodalica-1822021-go%C5%A1%C4%87a-ana-marinovi%C4%87/