Frankfurt am Main – “People with disabilities have a right to participate in the workforce. But for many companies, inclusion seems more of a nuisance. And with the ecological and digital transformation of the workplace—and especially amid the current COVID-19 crisis—employment prospects for people with severe disabilities are coming under increasing pressure,” said Hans-Jürgen Urban, executive board member of IG Metall, on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3. This day was established by the United Nations in 1993 as a day of remembrance and action to raise public awareness of the specific needs of people with disabilities. A person is considered to have a severe disability if their disability rating is at least 50 percent.
“Companies with at least 20 employees are legally required to fill five percent of their positions with severely disabled individuals. Nationwide, however, this quota averages only 4.6 percent, and in the private sector, it is as low as 4.1 percent. This underscores how far we still are from an inclusive workplace,” said Urban.
If employers do not meet the five percent quota, they must pay a compensation levy ranging from 125 to 320 euros per month for each unfilled mandatory position. “Many employers would rather pay the compensation levy than hire people with severe disabilities. One in four companies subject to the hiring requirement does not hire any people with disabilities at all. That is completely unacceptable. For these ‘total refusers,’ the compensation levy must be increased to at least 750 euros,” demanded Hans-Jürgen Urban.
But Urban also holds policymakers accountable: “The compensation levy does not exempt employers from the obligation to meet the employment quota. If employers violate this requirement, sanctions should follow. Therefore, businesses must be inspected more frequently. This may pose a certain challenge during the COVID-19 crisis—but the current situation must not be a free pass to ignore legal requirements.”
A total of 7.8 million people in Germany are recognized as having severe disabilities, and just under one million are actively participating in the workforce. Only three percent of disabilities are congenital; most are caused by accidents, illnesses, or wear and tear. The representatives for people with severe disabilities (SBV) in companies play an important role in shaping inclusion and creating barrier-free workplaces. They advocate for people with disabilities to be able to fully utilize and develop their abilities and to remain healthy and able to work in the long term.
Further information and press photos of Dr. Hans-Jürgen Urban
