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IMPACT OF THE AMANDMETS TO THE AUSTRIAN DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT ACT IN THE YEAR 2011 ON THE NUMBER OF DISABLED EMPLOYEES

Z. Dragicevic, J. Dobrila

Abstract

According to a study conducted by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection in 2009, approximately 20.5 % of the population, or about 1.7 million people, were permanently ill but their daily workflows are not affected by their condition. Approximately one million people have health restrictions on their personal physical movement. This amounts to about 13 % of the Austrian population. 318,000 people have visual impairment, 218,000 have some level of hearing loss, and 205,000 suffer from mental problems. Many people are affected by multiple disabilities. [1] Permanent health impairments are correlated to the age. In advanced age groups the number of persons experiencing lasting impairments increases. The group of under-20s has a share of 6.2 % while this percentage increases two-and-a-half-time to 16.3 % among the age group of 20 to 60. The age group of over 60s reached the highest share of around 48 %. [1] The quality of life of disabled people is demonstrably lower than that of people without disabilities. The number of disabled persons living in the single households is above-average and earns lower income than non-disabled people. Their education levels are also much lower than the average. While only 10 % of disabled people successfully complete high school education or receive a University degree, 29 – 30 % of non-disabled persons reach the same level. [1] In order to increase employment levels among this group of people Austrian Government and the Parliament implemented several amendments to the Federal Disability Employment Act in 2011. 5 years later the impact of these changes is questionable. This article will show the results of the changes.

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