Gov't partners object to TOP 09 minister's social reform

Prague, March 22 (CTK) - The Czech draft social reform prepared by Labour and Social Affairs Minister Jaromir Drabek (TOP 09) has raised objections of the coalition partners, the Civic Democrats (ODS) and Public Affairs (VV), who want it to be further discussed and amended, they said yesterday.

About 1000 disabled people demonstrated against the planned reform outside the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry in Prague this morning.

The senior ruling ODS says it minds the proposed change in the assessment of the level of disabled people's dependence on social care. It says the proposed criteria are vague and too general.

The VV criticised the planned abolition of disability cards for physically handicapped people and the plan to scrap protected workshops employing the disabled.

The opposition parties, the Social Democrats (CSSD) and the Communists (KSCM), too, are against the planned reform.

The VV wants the coalition to create a special team to start negotiations with the public.

VV deputy Petr Skokan criticised the coalition's way of communicating with people and its permanently changing position. He said he is against the semi-product, which in his opinion the draft reform is, being used to test the public's reaction.

Martin Vacek (VV), head of the lower house social affairs committee, said he minds the planned abolition of the disability cards. It would be more appropriate to toughen the criteria for the card applicants and reduce the advantages the card holders enjoy, Vacek said.

"We'd like to say again that disability cards and the implied advantages are not being scrapped. Nothing like that has ever been planned. Protected workshops are not to be scrapped either," Labour and Social Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Viktorie Plivova told CTK.

Drabek told reporters that the relevant draft legislation is not definitive and modification proposals can be made.

"I'm ready to incorporate them [in the text]. Of course, the basic plan as a step to higher effectiveness and simplification must be observed," Drabek said.

The ODS says the draft reform does not guarantee fundamental changes in the system. It wants the individual legislative proposals, that are too general now, to be completed and specified.

"The legislation lacks a long-term vision of the social services system arrangement. That is why we want to continue the debate...with Minister Drabek at the nearest meeting of the ODS deputies' group," the group head Petr Tluchor told CTK.

The ODS calls problematic Drabek's bill on social services that changes the system of assessing disabled people's dependence on such services.

"The proposed criteria are vague and general. This threatens to exclude some groups of people, who really need [social services]," said ODS deputy Lenka Kohoutova.

CSSD chairman Bohuslav Sobotka said the centre-right government's approach to the disabled is insensitive and humiliating.

"The proposal [if passed] will worsen their standard of living and their chance to join the work process. It is shameful of the government and Labour and Social Affairs Minister Drabek," Sobotka said.

He called on the government to withdraw the package of bills and not to submit it to parliament at all.

At the demonstration yesterday, about 1000 disabled people, their family members and supporters protested against the draft reform.

They fear the new system of disability assessment may strip them of state benefits. They also criticise the ministry's plan not to pay the social care benefits to the disabled but newly to the care providers. If the clients choose no service, the benefit would go forfeit.

Drabek says the measure is to prevent the benefits from being abused.