New Public Call from the Fund: 8.7 Million KM Support for Preserving and Developing Jobs for Persons with Disabilities

(Patria) - The Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities of the Federation of BiH has announced a public call for a total of 8.7 million convertible marks in support. The call focuses on employment sustainability, development of companies for the employment of persons with disabilities and sheltered workshops, and professional rehabilitation programs.

"The Fund continuously works to make it easier for employers who employ persons with disabilities to do business and develop. This public call is precisely an opportunity to further strengthen such companies and create space for new jobs," stated Ahmet Baljić, Director of the Fund.

The public call is designed to respond to the diverse needs of employers. Some companies primarily want to preserve existing jobs and ensure business stability, while others plan to invest in development, modernization, and expansion of production or services. Precisely because of this, the Fund has divided the program into several sections, which allow support to be tailored to the specific needs of companies.

"It is important for us that the support is practical and accessible to those who need it. Every company is different, so we have structured the public call to respond to different stages of business development," emphasized Baljić.

LOT I: Preservation of Existing Jobs

A portion of the funds is directed towards preserving existing jobs for persons with disabilities, through LOT I – a program for maintaining the existing level of employment in companies for the employment of persons with disabilities and sheltered workshops. In a business environment that often presents new challenges, support in maintaining stable operations can be crucial for companies that already employ persons with disabilities and wish to retain the current level of employment.

"Every job that is preserved has great value. When we support a company to retain an employed worker, we are actually strengthening the security and stability of that job in the long term," stressed the Director of the Fund.

LOT II: Investment in Development and New Employment

At the same time, the public call also recognizes the need for companies to grow and develop. This is precisely what LOT II is focused on – a program for the development of companies for the employment of persons with disabilities and sheltered workshops. Through this part of the program, employers can receive support for investments in equipment, improvement of work processes, adaptation of workplaces, or expansion of business capacities. Such investments are often crucial for the further development of companies, as the modernization of production or services can open up opportunities for new employment and long-term business sustainability.

"When a company develops its capacities, new employment opportunities also arise. Our goal is for companies that employ persons with disabilities to be stable, competitive, and ready for further growth," said Baljić.

Employers who meet the conditions can apply with projects that contribute to business stability or its development, and detailed information on the conditions and procedures is available on the official website of the Fund (https://fond.ba/).

This public call comes at a time when many companies are looking for ways to maintain stability, but also to continue investing in development. Precisely for this reason, the support that connects the preservation of existing jobs through LOT I and business development through LOT II represents an important instrument for companies that want to build sustainable and inclusive businesses. Applications are open for 45 days from the announcement of the public call.