Employment of disabled persons with multiple sclerosis in the Republic of Slovenia

Abstract

Education, world work and employment are of key importance for persons with disabilities to live a life without dependency. Due to lower levels of education and their inherent limitations, persons with disabilities usually have fewer job opportunities, or find it harder to get ahead at work and are more likely to lose their jobs. They need to be made more employable through a wide range of programmes and training and their employers need to be made aware of the possibilities for workplace adjustments. Slovenian legislation makes this possible. However, persons who are not granted a disability status do not have any disability rights. The aim of this scientific article is to present the disability status of persons diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (G35, hereinafter MS), which they acquire under the various relevant legislation. The objectives of the research are to examine the existing Slovenian legislation in the field of disability and rights, the protection of persons with disabilities and the recognition of disability for persons diagnosed with MS. We examined the existing legislation and conducted a survey with 85 adult persons diagnosed with MS and who are members of the MS Association of Slovenia. The survey shows that persons with the same or similar disabilities do not have the same rights, but that these rights depend on the legal basis on which they have acquired the status of a person with disabilities. Those who acquire the status of a person with disabilities on the basis of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities Act (ZZRZI) are not entitled to disability benefits. The fragmentation of the relevant legislation should be consolidated into a single statute on the recognition of dis-ability and a single register of persons with MS should be established. Our survey shows that 85% of respondents have a recognised disability status. The figures show that 14% are full-time em-ployees, 21.2% are part-time employees, 9.4% are jobseekers and are registered with the Em-ployment Service of Slovenia (ZRSZ), 1.2% are students. There has been no previous research in the field of employment and work of persons with MS in Slovenia. Future research would be needed to monitor the impact of employment on changes in the health status of persons with MS, the extent of sickness absence, restrictions or adjustments in the workplace (e.g., shorter working hours), employment opportunities, and suitable workplaces and environments for these persons.