Legal regulation of employment of persons with disabilities in Ukraine

The article examines the main legislative innovations in the mechanism of employment of persons with disabilities in Ukraine. It has been established that the state fund for social protection of persons with disabilities is a special fund of the State Budget of Ukraine. It is found that the main source of funding for the state social protection fund is contributions from employers to support the employment of persons with disabilities. It is argued that the procedure for using the state fund should be based on the principle of its targeted use. The need to develop and approve the Procedure for using the state social protection fund for persons with disabilities is emphasized. The experience of individual countries in the field of employment of persons with disabilities has been studied and two models of state policy in this area have been analyzed: the quota model – the regulatory establishment of a certain number of jobs for the employment of persons with disabilities; the anti-discrimination approach model – the introduction of provisions into national legislation that counteract discrimination in the labor market with positive incentives for employers. It is emphasized that the employment of persons with disabilities is now mandatory for employers in the private and public sectors of the economy. Changes in the quota for jobs for persons with disabilities were analyzed, in particular regarding the establishment of a quota of 2% of the number of employees for healthcare facilities, rehabilitation facilities, and social service providers; state, municipal, and non-state enterprises, institutions, and organizations whose main activity is the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, the training of such persons, or their care. An analysis was conducted of the mechanism for implementing reasonable workplace accommodations for persons with disabilities and their impact on increasing the employment of such persons. The provisions of the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On Approval of the Principles, Criteria, and Limits of Reasonable Accommodation and Universal Design” were critically analyzed from the perspective of effectively incentivizing employers to employ persons with disabilities. The legislative provisions that provide for the establishment of enterprises for the labor integration of persons with disabilities and sheltered employment enterprises are examined.