Employment of Disabled Persons with Multiple Sclerosis in the Republic of Slovenia

Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 513 - 526, 25.05.2024

Nana Weber Sara Ahlin Doljak

https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1418290

Abstract

Education, active involvement in the workforce, and securing employment opportunities are essential pillars for individuals with disabilities to attain autonomy and self-sufficiency. However, due to lower education levels and inherent limitations, they often face barriers in securing and maintaining employment. Enhancing their employability through various training programs and raising awareness among employers about workplace accommoda-tions is essential. Slovenian legislation facilitates this but excludes individuals without recognized disability status from disability rights. This study aims to explore the disability status of indi-viduals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) under relevant legislation. It examines Slovenian disability legislation, protection, and recognition of disability for those with MS through legislation analysis and a survey of 85 adult MS Association of Slovenia members. Findings reveal disparities in rights based on the legal basis of disability status acquisition. Those under the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities Act (ZZRZI) lack disability benefits. Consolidating relevant legislation into a unified statute for disability recognition and establishing a single MS registry is proposed. Survey results indicate an 85% disability recognition rate, with 14% full-time employees, 21.2% part-time employees, 9.4% job seekers registered with the Employment Service of Slovenia (ZRSZ), and 1.2% students among respondents. No prior research exists on MS-related employment in Slovenia, suggesting the need for future studies to monitor employment's impact on health status changes, sickness absence, workplace adjustments, employment opportunities, and suitable work environments for individuals with MS.

Keywords

rights, persons with disabilities, multiple sclerosis, retirement, working time

References

• Ahlin Doljak, S. (2020). Z multiplo sklerozo je mogoče živeti.
• Belopavlovič, N., Kresal, B., Kresal Šoltes, K., & Senčur Peček, D. (2016). Zakon o delovnih razmerjih (ZDR-1) s komentarjem. IUS Software (GV Založba).
• Bishop, M., & Rumrill, P. D. (2015). Multiple sclerosis: Etiology, symptoms, incidence and prevalence, and implications for community living and employment. Work, 52(4), 725–734. [PubMed]
• Direktiva Sveta 2000/78/ES o splošnih okvirih enakega obravnavanja pri zaposlovanju in delu (Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation), UL L No. 303, 2. 12. 2000, p. 16.
• European Parliament resolution of 30 November 2017 on implementation of the European Disability Strategy (2017/2127(INI)).
• Files, D. K., Jausurawong, T., Katrajian, R., & Danoff, R. (2015). Multiple sclerosis. Primary Care, 42(2), 159–175. [PubMed]
• Horvat Ledinek, A. (2014). Multipla skleroza in nosečnost. In H. Tušar, & M. Medvešček-Smrekar Eds., Teorija in praksa v zdravstveni negi nevrološkega bolnika. Zbornik predavanj, pp. 5–10. Zbornica zdravstvene in babiške nege Slovenije- Zveza društev medicinskih sester, babic in zdravstvenih tehnikov Slovenije, Sekcija medicinskih sester in zdravstvenih tehnikov v nevrologiji.
• Horvat Ledinek, A., Magdič, J., Savšek, L., Udovčić Pertot, A., Pirečnik Noč, A., Ahlin Doljak, S., Plankar, I., Šmid, P., & Selak, G. (2019). Posvet o obravnavi bolnikov z multiplo sklerozo.
• Konvencija o pravicah invalidov (Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities), Ur. l. RS-MP, No. 10/08. Maribor.info. (2022). Poznate to neozdravljivo bolezen, s katero pri nas živi 3500 oseb? Veliko pogosteje prizadene ženske.
• MSIF (Multiple Sclerosis International Federation). (2016). Global MS Employment Report 2016.
• Murgel, J. (2020). Varstvo pravic oseb z invalidnostjo v mednarodnem in slovenskem pravu s pregledom sodne prakse. GV Založba.
• Odredba o določitvi vrst in stopenj telesnih okvar (Order on determination types and level of physical impairments), Ur. l. RS, No. 163/21.
• Poročilo o evropski strategiji invalidnosti 2010-2020. (2017).
• Pravilnik o merilih in postopku za pridobitev statusa invalida, za priznanje pravice do zaposlitvene rehabilitacije in za ocenjevanje zaposlitvenih možnosti invalidov ter o delu rehabilitacijskih komisij (Rules on criteria and procedure to acquire the status of a person with disability and the right to vocational rehabilitation and to assess employment opportunities of persons with disabilities and on activities of rehabilitation commissions), Ur. l. RS, No. 117/05.
• Resolucija Evropskega parlamenta o evropski strategiji o invalidnosti po letu 2020, 2019/2975(RSP).
• Resolucija o Nacionalnem programu za mladino 2013-2022 (National Program for Youth 2013-2022), Ur. l. RS, No. 90/13.
• RTV SLO. (2020). Multipla skleroza, bolezen tisočerih obrazov.
• Strban, G. (2012). Pravne osnove varnosti: učbenik. Fakulteta za kemijo in kemijsko tehnologijo. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2021). Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence.
• Union of equality: strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030.
• Uredba o določitvi kvote za zaposlovanje invalidov (Decree establishing the employment quota for persons with disabilities), Ur. l. RS, No. 21/14.
• Uredba o standardni klasifikaciji dejavnosti (Decree on the Standard Classification of Activities), Ur. l. RS, No. 69/07 and 17/08.
• Ustava RS (Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia), Ur. l. RS, No. 33-91-I et seq.
• Weber, N. (2020). Prenehanje pogodbe o zaposlitvi. Lexpera, GV Založba.
• Zakon o delovnih razmerjih (ZDR-1; Employment Relationships Act), Ur. l. RS, No. 21/13 et seq.
• Zakon o izenačevanju možnosti invalidov (ZIMI; Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act). Ur. l. RS, No. 94/10, 50/14 and 32/17.
• Zakon o osebni asistenci (ZOA; Personal Assistance Act), Ur. l. RS, No. 10/17 et seq.
• Zakon o pokojninskem in invalidskem zavarovanju (ZPIZ; Pension and Disability Insurance Act), Ur. l. RS, No. 12/92 et seq.
• Zakon o pokojninskem in invalidskem zavarovanju (ZPIZ-1; Pension and Disability Insurance Act), Ur. l. RS, No. 106/99 et seq.
• Zakon o pokojninskem in invalidskem zavarovanju (ZPIZ-2; Pension and Disability Insurance Act), Ur. l. RS, No. 96/12 et seq.
• Zakon o socialnem vključevanju invalidov (ZSVI; Social Inclusion of Disabled Persons Act), Ur. l. RS, No. 30/18 et seq. Zakon o urejanju trga dela (ZUTD; Labour Market Regulation Act). Ur. l. RS, No. 80/10 et seq.
• Zakon o zaposlitveni rehabilitaciji in zaposlovanju invalidov (ZZRZI; Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities Act), Ur. l. RS, No. 63/04 et seq.
• Žiher, M. (2015). Pravice iz pokojninskega in invalidskega zavarovanja. In Vodnik po pravicah invalidov. Ministrstvo za delo, družino, socialne zadeve in enake možnosti.
• ZPIZ. (2022). Pravica do invalidnine za telesno okvaro.
• Zupanc, Z., Udovčić Pertot, A., Rotar, E., Drljepan, M., & Kragelj, V. (2016). Ocenjevanje funkcioniranja oseb z multiplo sklerozo v različnih fazah bolezni. Rehabilitacija, 15(1), 163–168.