(VIDEO) A System That Gives Opportunity: Professional Rehabilitation Fund Programs in Practice

(Patria) - The Fund for Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is continuously building a system that opens doors to work, independence, and dignity for persons with disabilities. The priority is employment in the open labor market, but when this is not possible due to the degree and type of disability, the Fund ensures employment under special
conditions – in business companies for the employment of persons with disabilities and in sheltered workshops.

Today, through this model, approximately 2,334 persons with disabilities are employed in 107 business companies and sheltered workshops, and behind these numbers are real people, skills, and sustainable business systems.

Through public calls announced twice a year, the Fund provides financial and development support through several key programs – from preserving existing jobs, through business development, to professional rehabilitation programs. Funds are used for the procurement and maintenance of equipment, raw materials, adaptation of workspaces, but also for direct financial incentives for the employment of persons with disabilities, which for employment under special conditions range from 15,000 to 27,000 KM, depending on the degree of disability and duration of employment.

How this support looks in practice is best shown by examples from the field.
One of them is the sheltered workshop Pamuk d.o.o. Sarajevo, which, with the support of the Fund, successfully operates in the field of space renovation, graphic and printing services, and the production of textile and decorative products.

“Pamuk company is developing with the support of the Fund, but our abilities are the basis of our success. We provide quality services and produce promotional and personalized products. We best express our gratitude to the Fund through the motto: My ability is stronger than my disability,” emphasizes director Nermin Sokolović.

The Fund also provides continuous support to business companies and sheltered workshops through tax and contribution refunds, wage subsidies, and financial compensation, thereby strengthening the long-term sustainability of employment for persons with disabilities.
The business company Bojka d.o.o. from Ljubuški, which deals with the cultivation of planting material and ornamental plants, also uses the Fund's support.

“This support has helped us a lot in production – from acquiring machinery to raw materials. There are people with difficulties in our area who find it hard to find work, and that is precisely why I decided on this type of employment,” says director Dario Bojka.

The business company Životna pomoć d.o.o. from Goražde, which is engaged in the production of finished textile products, has a similar story.

“The Fund's support enables us to employ more persons with disabilities, to improve work engagement, and to acquire the machinery that is essential for our work. This support is of exceptional importance for our team,” emphasizes director Mirsada Ćulov.

In its work, the Fund recognizes that the employment of persons with disabilities is not just a social measure, but an investment in knowledge, skills, and sustainable business models. With appropriate support, challenges turn into strengths, and the work environment into a space of understanding and cooperation.

“If some deaf individuals are unsure whether they will be able to perform the job independently, there are always colleagues who facilitate communication and work,” says Nermin Sokolović.

In the end, this story is not just about programs and financial support; it is an invitation to citizens and institutions to use the services and products of business companies and sheltered workshops, to recognize the quality of their work, and to contribute to creating a more inclusive society.