VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION IN VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION IN REPUBLIC OF CROATIAREPUBLIC OF CROATIA

NADA TURČIĆ, MD, PhDNADA TURČIĆ, MD, PhDCROATIAN INSTITUTE CROATIAN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORKFOR HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK

ZAGREB,CROATIAZAGREB,CROATIA

EASOM SUMMER SCHOOL 2015 – TEACHING PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS AT WORK

Lake Bled, Slovenia, 26th – 29th August 2015

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In Croatia the rights of persons with disabilities are regulated by international and national legislation

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

European Disabilities Strategy 2010-2020. European action plan – Equal opportunities

for peoples with disabilities

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National legislation Constitution Act of the Republic of Croatia National Strategy for Equalization of

Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities from 2007-2015

Labor Act Anti-Discrimination Act Pension Insurance Act Act on Vocational Rehabilitation

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National strategy of Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities from 2007 until 2015.

- the republic of Croatia expressed its commitment to implement the active policy of human rights, which arises from the adoption of international key documents as well as contemporary standards in this field

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Vocational rehabilitation aims to promote employment of people with health issues.

It is deemed to be one potential way to enable people with disabilities to work and thus increase the overall employment level.

Return to work is usually the main outcome measure of vocational rehabilitation.

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Vocational rehabilitation is a group of activities (practical acquisition and application of knowledge, skills and routines) aimed at rehabilitating a disabled worker to work, thereby preserving his or her residual work capacity.

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PROFESSIONAL REHABILITATION PROFESSIONAL REHABILITATION WITHIN PENSION INSURANCEWITHIN PENSION INSURANCE

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PROTECTION OF THE REMAINING CAPACITY FOR WORK

risk of disability contraindications allocating appropriate job according to article 78 of

the Labor Act

In the Pension Insurance Act there is no explicit definition of professional rehabilitation but it is defined through reduced work capacity

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DISABILITY

a reduced work capacity occurs in the an insuree’s work capacity, due to permanent changes in his or her health that cannot be cured, is reduced for more than one half compared to a healthy person of the same or similar education

residual work capacity of an insuree exists in case there is a reduced work capacity however, according to his or her health condition, age, education and capabilities, such insuree can be professionally rehabilitated to perform other full time jobs.

permanent disability to work – permanent loss of the ability for work due to changes in health which cannot be cured

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EXPERT OPINION

review of medical records

examination of the insured person

review of the job specification

identifying contraindications and evaluation of the capacity for work

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OCCUPATIONAL REHABILITATION – Articles 44.-55. of the Pension Insurance Act

in case of non-occupational injury or disease, a minimum length of Pension Insurance is required

in case of injury at work place or occupational disease, the insured person is entitled the right regardless of the length of Pension Insurance

the Pension Insurance Institute covers education and accommodation costs

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THE RIGHT IS ENTITLED TO

insured person below age 53 if capable to qualify for another full-time job

person employed

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SALARY COMPENSATION

From the first day of disability until the day professional rehabilitation begins

Salary compensation during professional rehabilitation

Salary compensation from day professional rehabilitation ended until employment in an adequate job

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OCCUPATIONAL REHABILITATION

FORMAL EDUCATION acquiring professional education at verified

institutions

NON-FORMAL EDUCATION work place adjustment in-service training with supervisor

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EXPERT TEAM

based on expert opinion

occupational medicine specialist

pedagogue/ andragogue

psychologist

social worker

 

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EXPERT TEAM

work place analysis

professional assistance to the employer considering allocation to other appropriate jobs

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EXPERT TEAM determines 

the possibility of re-training and in-service training considering the MEDICAL CONTRAINDICATIONS

the possibilities based on PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

the possibilities based on the EMPLOYER'S REQUIREMENTS

PERSONAL ABILITIES of the insured person

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an important step for disabled person in the training for independent life and work, taking into consideration health condition and remaining capacity for work

It is deemed to be one potential way to enable people with disabilities to work and thus increase the overall employment level.

Return to work is usually the main outcome measure of vocational rehabilitation.

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REHABILITATION

DIFFICULTIES 

low level of motivation uncertainty of employment inadequate choice of possible occupations work contract can be cancelled by the

employer lack of social action to integrate these people

in the work process rehabilitation of unemployed persons

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long-term treatment contributes to the loss of work habits

a pause in the course of education is discouraging

fear from failure those having completed re-training lose their

jobs and encounter many obstacles on finding new jobs

rent tendencies

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DIFFICULTIES 

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CROATIAN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE

Croatian Employment Service has participated in the activities within IPA project Component IV. Giving equal employment opportunities to

people with disabilities The Croatian Employment Service carries out

vocational rehabilitation of the disabled persons who are unable to exercise this right in another way, thereby creating equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities

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NEW ACT ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

New definition of disabilityUnique assessment bodyUniform list of impairmentsInternational Classification of Functioning

Disability and Health (ICF, WHO 2001) Assessment of needs and work ability

Assessment – training - placement

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NEW ACT ON VOCATIONALREHABILITATION

Services payer:- Croatian Pension Insurance Institute- Croatian Health Insurance Institute- Ministry of Social Affairs- Insurance companies

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NEW ACT ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

Quota – employers with more than 20 employees have obligation to employ 2-6% of disabled person

Benefits and privileges

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Professional Rehabilitation Centers

Sheltered workshops

Integrative workshops

Employment in the Labor Market and self employment

Entitled to a survivor΄s pension

NEW ACT ON VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

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We believe that new Act of Vocational Rehabilitation will enable disabled persons to increase work performance

and provide greater work efficiency at all levels with equal opportunities

Thus we will also improve their quality of life

CONCLUSION

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