De Wet (Re)ïntegratie Arbeidsgehandicapten

- In spite of the growing economy, with diminishing unemployment and increasing scarcity of manpower, many people with chronic health problems remain unemployed. To promote their participation in the labour progress, the Law on (Re)integration of Incapacitated Persons (REA) was enacted on 1 July 1998. This law provides a number of facilities for those classified as ‘unable to work’. These are persons impaired by chronic health problems in participating in the labour process. The existing allowances have been liberalized and simplified considerably. Employers in certain cases can expect substantial subsidies. In addition, there are more facilities like vocational re-education and psychological and other training courses.

The concept of ‘incapability’ is rather vague. Fortunately, the Law makes it immediately clear who may be regarded as incapable. In other cases, physicians employed by Factories Act organizations, employement policy offices and social insurance will have to take part in the evaluation. The new law has a few paradoxical starting points, those incapable for work are given hardly any voice and there is a clear risk of stigmatization. On the other hand, failure of the (re)integration of handicapped persons into the labour process may lead to further encroaching upon the welfare state.