Prague, July 8 (CTK) – No Czech ministry employed the required number of physically disabled people in 2014 and they bought products from the disabled or paid a fine to the state instead, according to a report that Minister for Human Rights Jiri Dienstbier presented to the cabinet on Wednesday.
Only two of 12 national public administration bodies met the quota, the report writes.
In total, 407 people with physical disabilities worked at the ministries and state institutions last year, while the required number is more than twice as high, 946. The ministries and state institutions employed 23,574 people in total.
At least 4 percent of the staff of firms and institutions with more than 25 employees should be physically disabled. If they do not employ the disabled, they can either buy goods and services from firms with a majority of disabled employees, or pay a fine to the state budget.
The ministries and national public administration bodies paid the fine of 15.7 million crowns for not meeting the quota in 2014.
This situation has been repeatedly criticised by the National Disability Council, which said the state offices should be an example to follow in employing the disabled.
The representatives of ministries said not enough disabled people applied for work.
The office that nearly met the quota was the Labour and Social Affairs Ministry that employed 37 disabled people, while its quota was 42, and it bought items made by disabled people to compensate for the remaining five job positions.
The culture, trade, justice and health ministries bought products as well, instead of paying fines for not meeting the quota.
The quota was met by the Administration of State Material Reserves and the Czech Mining Office.
On the contrary, the antitrust office UOHS and the Energy Regulatory Office (ERU) did not employ a single disabled person. The highest fine of 1.2 million crowns was paid by the Czech Telecommunication Office that had 6 of the 19 required disabled employees.
