Job advertisement website created for people with disabilities

From 6 May, people with disabilities will be able to post their job advertisements on www.cilveksnevisdiagnoze.lv. From now on, people looking for work will be able to create a profile on the website, specifying their skills and abilities. Employers, in turn, will be able to view these profiles and invite people to job interviews.

The advertisements section was created as part of the Ministry of Welfare’s campaign “Do things differently – achieve the same!” to promote the employment of people with disabilities and their inclusion in the labour market. The section operates on principles similar to those of the “LinkedIn” platform: jobseekers can create a profile, placing greater emphasis on their skills rather than solely on their professional experience and education. Employers can view these profiles, contact people personally and invite them to job interviews.

People with disabilities in particular are encouraged to create their own profiles. To give employers an insight into an employee’s abilities and the need for workplace adaptations, jobseekers should specify the type of disability in their profiles and, preferably, their disability group as well. It is envisaged that the section will be visited by representatives of various organisations—commercial companies, institutions and civil society organisations—thereby promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities both in the labour market and in society as a whole.

As Imants Lipskis, Director of the Labour Market Policy Department of the Ministry of Welfare, points out, the newly created advertisements section is an important step towards promoting an inclusive attitude. “The labour market is gradually becoming more open, while stereotypes and prejudices about the ability of people with disabilities to perform their professional duties responsibly are diminishing in society and at workplaces. At present, more than 42,000 people with disabilities of working age are employed in the country, while more than 64,000 are not working. Many people with disabilities make use of various support opportunities, acquire professions and skills in demand in the labour market, and want to prove themselves to be reliable and loyal employees. I hope that the advertisements section of the website will serve as a meeting place for people who want to work and open-minded employers.”

The profiles and advertisements created will remain available after the campaign ends, giving people the opportunity to continue creating their profiles. The website could also become a kind of social responsibility platform for companies and brands that are ready to employ people with disabilities.

The website www.cilveksnevisdiagnoze.lv provides information that will be useful to employers when hiring a person with a disability, as well as recommendations for employees. The website also contains other materials from the “Do things differently – achieve the same!” campaign—both practical and inspirational—allowing visitors to learn about examples of good practice and personal stories.

Author:

lm.gov.lv