LEGISLATION
Disabled rights bill sails through NLA
Employment opportunities for people with disabilities will be better protected when a new law on the rights of the disabled takes effect next year, a senior official attached to the Social Development and Human Security Ministry said. Wisit Sanamchuad, director of the protection of rights division, said the bill on improving the quality of life of disabled people has sailed through the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Besides rights and accessibility, the draft legislation also addresses employment of people with disabilities.
Article 29 of the bill requires employers, including state agencies, to hire qualified disabled people or make contributions to a fund for people with disabilities.
Employers who fail to comply with the requirement can be fined and the secretary-general of the Office for Improvement of Quality of Life of People with Disabilities is authorised to seek the seizure of those employers' assets.
He said the legislation also provides tax incentives for employers to hire disabled people. Companies where more than 60% of the staff are disabled will receive tax breaks.
Mr Wisit said the law also offers tax incentives to transport services operators and building owners who provide accessibility and facilities to the disabled.
The law is another crucial step for the country which last year signed at the United Nations General Assembly a convention to protect the rights of some 650 million people around the world with disabilities. The pact, regarded as the first major human rights treaty of the 21st century, will come into force when 20 of the 192 UN member states ratify it.
Countries that ratify the treaty have to enact laws and other measures to improve the rights of the disabled, and also abolish legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against people with disabilities.
Bangkok Post Aug. 30, 2007
