Romania: Protest slams decree on jobs for disabled people
Posted August 22, 2017 7:00 am
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - People with disabilities have protested outside Romania's labor ministry against a measure they say could leave them jobless.
About 200 protesters - some in wheelchairs, others with crutches - carried banners Tuesday in Bucharest saying "We want to work, not beg!"
They were angry at a government emergency decree that means companies with more than 50 employees no longer have to hire a certain number of disabled people or to use a department that hires special-needs personnel.
It is scheduled to take effect Sept. 1.
A federation that represents non-governmental social services said the decree could lead to 2,000 people with disabilities losing their jobs.
A statement said, "We refuse to be considered invisible and unimportant and to ... obey decrees that can change our lives with a single signature."
A woman passes in her wheelchair by the Labour Ministry in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, during a protest by disabled people that she was not attending. Hundreds of disabled people joined the protest to express their anger at a government emergency decree that changes the current law and no longer obliges companies with more than 50 employees to hire a number of disabled people or use the services of a department that hires special needs personnel which could lead to 2,000 disabled people losing their jobs.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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A riot policeman carries a protective fence after a protest outside the Labour Ministry in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. Hundreds of disabled people joined the protest to express their anger at a government emergency decree that changes the current law and no longer obliges companies with more than 50 employees to hire a number of disabled people or use the services of a department that hires special needs personnel which could lead to 2,000 disabled people losing their jobs. Papers read "We don't want assistance , we want to be active and involved".(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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A disabled man crosses the street in his wheelchair while taking part in a protest outside the Labour Ministry in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. Hundreds of disabled people joined the protest to express their anger at a government emergency decree that changes the current law and no longer obliges companies with more than 50 employees to hire a number of disabled people or use the services of a department that hires special needs personnel which could lead to 2,000 disabled people losing their jobs.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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A disabled man sits in his wheelchair, behind a Romanian flag, while taking part in a protest outside the Labour Ministry in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. Hundreds of disabled people joined the protest to express their anger at a government emergency decree that changes the current law and no longer obliges companies with more than 50 employees to hire a number of disabled people or use the services of a department that hires special needs personnel which could lead to 2,000 disabled people losing their jobs. Papers read "We don't want assistance , we want to be active and involved". (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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A woman comforts a young man in his wheelchair after taking part in a protest outside the Labour Ministry in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. Hundreds of disabled people joined the protest to express their anger at a government emergency decree that changes the current law and no longer obliges companies with more than 50 employees to hire a number of disabled people or use the services of a department that hires special needs personnel which could lead to 2,000 disabled people losing their jobs. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
The Associated Press
Disabled people, some in wheelchairs take part in a protest outside the Labour Ministry in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. Hundreds of disabled people joined the protest to express their anger at a government emergency decree that changes the current law and no longer obliges companies with more than 50 employees to hire a number of disabled people or use the services of a department that hires special needs personnel which could lead to 2,000 disabled people losing their jobs.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
The Associated Press
A disabled man sits in his wheelchair while taking part in a protest outside the Labour Ministry in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. Hundreds of disabled people joined the protest to express their anger at a government emergency decree that changes the current law and no longer obliges companies with more than 50 employees to hire a number of disabled people or use the services of a department that hires special needs personnel which could lead to 2,000 disabled people losing their jobs. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
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