Ukraine has made the first compensation payment to a sole proprietor with a disability for the arrangement of his own workplace. This step was made possible following the March expansion of the government’s compensation programme initiated by the Ministry of Economy and the State Employment Service. Prior to that, financial assistance for workplace arrangements was provided exclusively to employers.
The first entrepreneur to benefit from the revised programme was Serhiy Kryvusha from Skvyra, Kyiv region. He has a group II disability and is a combat veteran. He used the funds from the Unemployment Insurance Fund to purchase office equipment with specialised software and an uninterruptible power supply.
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Sergiy became an entrepreneur only six months ago with the support of the Employment Service – he received a veteran grant under the Vlasna Sprava programme for UAH 500,000, purchased equipment for installing solar panels, employed two more veterans and has already completed his first orders. In addition, he was the first to receive a new compensation for workplace improvement.
According to Yulia Svyrydenko, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, the programme aims to support an inclusive business environment for veterans and people with disabilities. Compensations of UAH 80,000 to 120,000 can be used to equip workplaces, from purchasing special equipment to installing ramps and lifts.
In total, the programme has already created almost 2,600 inclusive jobs and provided state support to more than 2,000 enterprises. UAH 183 million has been allocated from the budget for this purpose.
The updated programme remains open to both existing entrepreneurs and those who are just planning to start their own business.
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