People with disabilities still face major barriers to entering the labor market because of persistent stereotypes, inadequate infrastructure, and limited employer awareness, Labor and Social Protection Minister Natalia Plugaru said in an interview with IPN. Although support mechanisms exist, employers rarely use them, which leaves many people dependent on social services or placed in large residential institutions.
The state offers subsidies to employers to adapt workplaces and buildings to the needs of employees with disabilities. Natalia Plugaru explained that these measures cover employers costs and support professional inclusion, but many companies remain unaware of the program. She stressed the need for stronger cooperation with the private sector and for promoting businesses that invest in inclusion.
For people with severe disabilities who cannot work, the ministry provides social services. However, a major challenge remains the high number of institutionalized individuals. Nearly 1,700 people with disabilities currently live in large residential centers that fail to meet modern living standards.
Authorities plan to gradually reduce this number by developing community homes and protected housing within local communities. These facilities host small groups of four to six people and allow beneficiaries to live more independently. According to the minister, this model also costs less than maintaining large institutions.
Natalia Plugaru also addressed child protection reforms. The number of children living in placement centers dropped from about 15,000 in the early 2000s to around 360 today. Authorities placed most children in professional foster care or family type homes.
The minister noted that maintaining a child in a placement center costs about 300,000 lei per year, while family based care costs roughly 150,000 lei annually. She emphasized that the government aims to eliminate placement centers entirely and ensure that every vulnerable child grows up in a family or receives specialized community based services.