Unemployment is still a challenge for the government. Significant steps were taken to decrease unemployment though additional measures must be taken to solve the issue of employment of people from vulnerable groups of society (people with disabilities, former prisoners, probationers, unprotected groups, youth etc.)
On December 26, 2013 Georgian parliament by the ruling N1888rs ratified “The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” (13 December, 2006).
After the ratification Government of Georgia adopted a set of legal acts in order to protect rights of people with disabilities as well as state programs aimed at civil reintegration and social rehabilitation of people from vulnerable groups.
In order to fulfill the obligations of the convention the coordination between bodies was made more effective to help vulnerable groups of society in employment. These measures contain next steps: The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia is working on the reform “Implementation of the Inclusive Professional Education in the System of Professional Education and Retraining of Georgia” which will provide people with disabilities and ones who need a special education with necessary skills. The Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia together with its counterpart ministries implements pilot projects of employing people with disabilities.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Affairs of Georgia and LEPL – Social Service Agency in cooperation with local authorities and other bodies promote employment of people from vulnerable groups.
The centre of prevention of crime and innovative programs of The Ministry of Justice of Georgia implements important state programs aimed at civil integration and social rehabilitation of former prisoner.
The main goal of Ministry of Corrections of Georgia – National Probation Agency is a rehabilitation and social reintegration of prisoners and parolees.
Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs of Georgia and Children and Youth Development Fund implement programs which assist observance of rights of youth (also youth from vulnerable groups) and help to establish them in society by developing their skills.
The Tbilisi City Hall together with LEPL Social Service Agency implements programs assistance to employment and of increasing a competitiveness of people with disabilities in labor market. Involvement of society and all interested parties is very important for implementation of all those programs, development of proof-based policies and preparing future legal acts.
The goal of the meeting is to involve all parties that work on the issues of vulnerable groups of society into common dialogue and express their opinion in order to increase effectiveness of the ongoing processes. Models of assistance to employment of people with disabilities will be discussed on the meeting and after that their piloting process will be launched. A format of the meeting includes parallel sessions and small working (theme) groups.