National Foundation for the Disabled Urges Candidates to Take Concrete Actions: Reform Labor Inclusion Law to Increase Hiring Percentages

Original article: Fundación Nacional de Discapacitados pide acciones «concretas» a candidatos: «Reformular ley de inclusión laboral para aumentar porcentajes de contratación»

The National Foundation for the Disabled, through its president and executive director Alejandro Hernández, has called on candidates Jeanette Jara and José Antonio Kast to take concrete and effective actions for the benefit of «the 9 million Chileans with disabilities and their families, who will vote in the second round for the candidate that considers them the most,» they stated in a press release.

From the NGO, they emphasized that «the candidates have talked about everything except what affects more than half of the population. If we want bread to reach the table of all Chileans and for salaries to last until the end of the month, we must start with people with disabilities,» asserted Hernández, a social activist since the 1980s.

In Chile, the prevalence of disabilities is rising due to various causes: high levels of stress, increased alcohol and drug consumption, aging population, and strokes, which have increased by 25% since the pandemic.

«Disability + Rights – Charity. This is the motto that the Foundation has championed since 2014, focusing on rights. This motto raises awareness and supports marches for and by people with disabilities throughout Latin America,» the foundation stated.

«It’s not enough to donate to a single organization and think everything is taken care of when it only helps 1% of people, and only in the area of Rehabilitation,» pointed out Alejandro Hernández, who proposes an urgent package of measures benefiting all, starting with the implementation of a «Free Accessible Card» so that all individuals in this condition can use public transportation at no cost, from Arica to Punta Arenas.

«As compensation for the multiple barriers they face daily,» Hernández asserted, adding that it is also essential to reform the Labor Inclusion Law 21.015, increasing the hiring percentage from 1% to 3% in public organizations and private companies. La Moneda – the Chilean government palace – Congress, and the Ministries must lead by example.

«Moreover, it is urgent that Senadis be led by recognized activists instead of political appointments. The National Disability Service requires a high level of specialization and proven experience, as the health and quality of life of the historically marginalized sector are at stake,» the social leader emphasized.

Rights and Disability

Before 1973, people with disabilities were not used to «unite Chile» or to «sell hope,» as they have «always been subjects of rights, not charity. Recipients of the highest consideration in developed countries,» the NGO reminded.

«In a country like ours, it is worth refreshing the candidates’ memories. We do this in the name of all the anonymous and not-so-anonymous social fighters who have taken to the streets to manifest and conquer rights. Public policies benefiting people with disabilities have historically been presented by us, the members of civil society organizations, who have been witnesses and protagonists for over four decades,» they asserted.

«We hope that Jeannette Jara and José Antonio Kast truly empathize and adopt our proposals aimed at establishing greater social justice in the country. Among other issues, to overcome the 90% unemployment rate and the 97% lack of access to health and rehabilitation that affects the sector,» concludes the statement from the National Foundation for the Disabled.

El Ciudadano