“Over 2.2 billion forints (EUR 6.4 million) in additional funding will be available in next year’s budget for the employment of people with disabilities”, the Ministry of Human Capacities’ State Secretary for Social Affairs Attila Fülöp said in the Vas County town of Ivánc on Wednesday.
In his speech at the official inauguration of the new facility established by ERFO Public Benefit Non-profit Ltd., Mr. Fülöp said: “In 2021, 45.6 billion forints (EUR 132 million) will be available to fund the employment of people with disabilities”.
“Increasing the available funding is important because it is also a natural requirement of people with a reduced working capacity, and people who are disabled, to work and to receive a wage for their work with which they can assure themselves a livelihood at home, or in a residential institution”, the State Secretary added.
“There are currently 1600 social residential institutions operating in Hungary in which the elderly, people with disabilities, and people with psychiatric disorders or addictions live; their numbers exceed one hundred thousand”, Mr. Fülöp said.
“These institutions find themselves at the centre of public attention if some problem arises”, he noted, stressing: “Little is said about their everyday operations, the help these institutions provide, or the sacrifices made by the people who work there”.
“Work performed within the field of social care is work performed in the interests of the community; a community service that deserves more attention and acknowledgement”, he stated.
In his speech, managing director of the company group consisting of the FŐKEFE, Kézmű and ERFO public benefit non-profit businesses Péter Csizi said the companies employ a total of 9500 people, and 85 percent of their employees are people with various disabilities.
He added that the management’s goal is for the organisation to have a facility everywhere in the country where there is demand for one. Mr. Csizi said it is most welcome that despite the difficulties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the company group was able to increase the number of workplaces it offers by a further five hundred.
The new facility at the Vas County Vocational Home manufactures binders for documents, and the products are marketed via one of the country’s largest paper and stationery retail chains.