MARIGOT--On the occasion of International Day of Disabled Persons on Thursday, December 3, Vice-President Ramona Connor, who is in charge of Social Affairs at the Department of Solidarity and Families, is encouraging people with disabilities to take the necessary action to have their situation taken into account in the work place.
The Department’s Director of Autonomy is at the disposal of these people, to support them in their efforts, she noted.
This special day was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations, with the specific purpose of promoting the integration of people with disabilities in society by giving them access to the economic, social and political life.
“People with disabilities represent 15 per cent of the world population, while 80 per cent of them are of working age,” Connor indicated. “In St. Martin, Caisse Allocation Familiale (CAF) follows about 400 cases of people with disabilities. Giving access to employment to these persons is a central issue of our social policies. Women in particular are facing behavioural barriers to have equal opportunities in the workplace.
“December 3, for me is an opportunity to discuss the professional integration of people with disabilities, including the official Recognition of the Quality of a Handicapped Worker (RQHW), which is an essential provision in the life of disabled workers.
“RQHW is a label intended for employees with disabilities, chronic illness, health problems, that impact on working life. It includes specific provisions for disabled employees because it allows them to benefit from facilities (workstation, scheduling arrangements, part-time duty in the public service etc.) and in general, to benefit from all the measures that help them to keep their job.
“It also offers the opportunity to access certain qualifications and professional training which can be paid, and also gives access to a direct recruitment in the public service (by contractual agreement under conditions).”
RQHW is an official recognition of a health problem which must be taken into account by ones employer, superiors and colleagues. The law provides that any employer of the public or private sector, employing 20 people or more is required to have in its workforce at least six per cent of disabled people. Those officially recognized as disabled workers are legally entitled to customised schedules or arrangements if their condition requires it.
People with disabilities who wish to obtain this recognition are invited to apply at the Solidarity and Families Department, No.5, Rue Léopold Mingau in Concordia, to obtain the form and return it duly completed.
It is also possible to download the form on the www.service-public.fr website (under Labour / Employment and Disability). It must be accompanied by a medical certificate required for the admissibility of the demand.
RQHW recognition falls under the jurisdiction of the Commission on Human Rights and Autonomy of Disabled Persons, which assesses applications and notifies the applicant of its decision to award RQHW status or not, for a period of five years.
