Bolzano: Team K questions disability inclusion, citing few stable jobs despite funding requests

A regional councilor in Bolzano, Italy, has challenged the provincial government's optimistic assessment of its disability employment programs. Alex Ploner of the Team K party argues that the government's focus on funding requests and individual success stories obscures a more complex and problematic reality for many individuals with disabilities seeking stable employment.

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Inclusion is measured in jobs, not in funding requests.

Ploner points to data indicating that while companies actively seek funding, the actual number of people securing permanent jobs remains low. He highlights the hospitality sector as particularly concerning, where only a fraction of integration paths led to regular employment contracts, and very few to permanent positions. "A convention is not a contract, and an internship is not a job," Ploner stated, emphasizing that the true measure of inclusion lies in stable, long-term employment.

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A convention is not a contract, and an internship is not a job.

The councilor also raised concerns about individuals in protected workshops and day centers, questioning how many transition to the open labor market with adequate pay and social security. He critically assessed the increased compensation for integration projects, arguing that the maximum of 650 euros per month does not guarantee economic autonomy and is classified as socio-pedagogical compensation rather than a salary. Ploner insists that genuine inclusion requires more than just financial incentives; it demands concrete job placements and fair compensation.

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When hundreds of companies request funding, but only a few people with disabilities manage to obtain stable employment, we must critically question the effectiveness of these measures.