The Committee on Health, Labour and Social Welfare of the Parliament of Montenegro held a consultative hearing on the topic “Efficiency of using funds from contributions to professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities”, initiated by MPs Ms Snežana Jonica and Mr Radosav Nišavić.

The State Audit Institution conducted audit of the success of “Efficiency of using funds from contributions to professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities”, and on 19 October 2015 published the final report. The goal of the audit was to determine whether funds from the special contribution, aimed at professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, were being used in an efficient manner, and whether there was a possibility of achieving a greater degree of use.

The meeting of the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Welfare was attended by: Ms Edina Dešić-Perazić, acting Director General of Directorate for Labour Market at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ms Ranka Pavićević, Advisor at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Nikola Vukićević, Director General of Directorate for Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Ms Tamara Ivković, Coordinator at Directorate for Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Branislav Radulović, member of the State Audit Institution, Mr Blažo Savković, Head of Sector, Chief Auditor, Ms Angelina Međedović, Chief Inspector at the Division for Inspection at the Administration for Inspection Affairs,  Ms Vukica Jelić, Director of the Employment Agency, Ms Slavica Radusinović, Head of the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, Ms Marina Vujačić, Executive Director of the Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro, and Mr Goran Macanović, President of the Council of the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities.

The Committee meeting was attended by MP Mr Husnija Šabović, member of the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Welfare, as well as MP Mr Srđan Milić, as the interested MP.

Following the introductory remarks by representative of the submitter of request for holding of the consultative hearing MP Mr Radosav Nišavić and Executive Director of the Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro Ms Marina Vujačić, the Committee members were addressed by Mr Branislav Radulović, Head of Collegium of the State Audit Institution. All the invited participants and members of the Committee participated in the discussion, giving proposals and suggestions relevant to resolving difficulties encountered by the persons with disabilities.

All the participants agreed at the meeting that it was necessary to initiate amending the Law on Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of the Persons with Disabilities and overcoming of problems encountered by these persons while seeking employment. Additionally, the MPs supported the recommendations of the State Audit Institution which will be implemented as well as conclusions of the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Welfare.

Based on the expressed views and proposals, Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Labour and Social Welfare of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Zoran Jelić said that the proposed conclusions, after their adoption at one of the upcoming meetings of the Committee, would be submitted to authorities competent for their implementation.