Benin: measures for the protection of the disabled

2023-06-22 17:35:29

In Benin, the State sets in favor of people with disabilities, new conditions of access to employment, transport and shows. New texts were adopted by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday June 21, to improve the level of social integration of this target.

The proscribed state “the application criteria excluding people with disabilities during competitions and recruitment tests for public and private jobs [sauf] recruitment in specific jobs or trades requiring proven physical skills and special sensory faculties”.

Also, the Executive has decided to increase by 5 years, “the required age group” to participate in recruitment into the public service for the benefit of persons with disabilities. This social stratum now benefits “a quota of 5% of the number of places advertised for public employment, taking into account their capacities and skills”.

As for the entrepreneurial component, the State undertakes to exempt the costs and taxes related to the formalization of businesses created by a disabled person. Exemptions can be “total or partial, temporary or permanent, under the conditions set by order of the Minister in charge of Finance”, inform the report of the council of ministers.

The same tax measures apply “the import, manufacture and sale of means of transport and equipment for the benefit of disabled people”.

The document also provides for a specific scholarship for this target. The Council of Ministers indicates that “the State grants an annual subsidy to private establishments for the education and training of people with disabilities to support their operation”. Added to this is the technical and pedagogical follow-up of the said training centres.

Ease of transport and shows

The implementing decrees of theLaw No. 2017-06 of September 29, 2017 on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the Republic of Beninexigent “ease of access and priority reservation of seats in cultural and leisure centres, priority boarding and disembarkation in transport”.

In addition, the disabled are entitled to a 10% reduction on paid admissions to public entertainment centres. This reduction also concerns the public transport sector within the national territory.