Neregių ir silpnaregių padėtis darbo rinkoje: situacijos ypatumai

Abstract

The article presents the research which aims at reassessing the possibilities of the blind and partially sighted to get integrated in the job market in our society (in this way assisting the disabled people to solve problems of their employment). The scope of the research: 322 respondents from different Lithuanian towns and regions. What is the real situation of the blind and partially sighted in the job market? How far ahead is the process of integration into the open job market, which is being advocated by scholars and declared by the state’s social policy? What decides the peculiarities of the present situation? The aim of this article is described by the search of the answers to these questions. The object of the research: the peculiarities of the situation of the blind and partially sighted in the job market. The results of the research prove the hypothesis of the study, that the integration of the blind and partially sighted into the job market is an extremely slow process and has no well-defined prospects. This is due to the attitude of the society (inadequate family support, negative attitude of employers), lack of human capital of the disabled (education, professional experience and competence), due to inadequate social support facing the employment situation (indifference of governmental institutions, unprofessional work of the organizations of the disabled). Only one aspect of the hypothesis could be discussed (inadequate support of the relations). On one hand the results of the research would deny this part of the hypothesis, but on the other hand, the results show that the relations’ wish to help is not compatible with factual possibilities, awareness (ability) how to do this.
From the aspect of public attitude, it has been defined, that there exists clinical approach towards the integration of the blind and partially sighted into the job (labor) market: the relations would like to help the disabled, but they are not aware how, they do not believe in professional career in the open job market. The attitudes of the employers are oriented to the closed job market (social enterprises).
In the aspect of human capital of the disabled it has been revealed, that the blind and partially sighted having higher professional qualifications, exceptional personalities or professional skills get integrated quite successfully both in a closed or open job market.
However, the results of the research prove that the number of strong and ready for the job market personalities is small. Meanwhile the majority of the disabled are not sufficiently educated to compete in the job market.
In the aspect of inadequate social assistance facing employment situation it has been established that the existing social assistance in Lithuania is not efficient and insufficient to help the blind get integrated into the job market. The results of the research have revealed that the majority of the blind and partially sighted would prefer to work if they had a possibility. Now, when Lithuania has joined the European Union, the support of European Social Fund will capacitate new changes in this situation.