Salary subsidies for employers hiring persons with disabilities

In today’s business world, employing people with disabilities represents an important step towards inclusivity and equality. In order to support employers in this process, there are certain subsidies and obligations to keep in mind.

OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYERS

• An employer with less than 20 employees is not required to hire a person with a disability.
• An employer with 20 to 50 employees is required to hire at least one person with a disability.
• An employer with more than 50 employees is required to hire at least 5% of persons with disabilities in relation to the total number of employees.

This obligation does not apply to newly established businesses for the first 24 months from the start of operations.

If an employer hires or has a person with a severe disability of at least 80%, it is considered, in terms of hiring obligations, that they have hired two people with disabilities.

WAGE SUBSIDIES

When an employer hires a person with a disability, they are entitled to a wage subsidy from the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation. The amount of the subsidy depends on the percentage of disability of the person being hired and is as follows:

• For an employer hiring a person with at least 50% disability: 75% of the gross salary paid for the entire period of employment.
• For an employer hiring a person with a disability of less than 50%, the subsidy is:
• 75% in the first year
• 60% in the second year
• 50% of the gross salary in the third year and every subsequent year.

The application for the right to the wage subsidy must be submitted to the Fund for Professional Rehabilitation within 45 days from the date of hiring a person with a disability. If the application is submitted after the deadline, the right to the subsidy takes effect from the date of application submission.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS

• An employer with less than 10 employees does not pay special contributions.
• An employer with 10 to 20 employees is required to pay a special contribution of 5% of the average monthly salary in Montenegro earned in the year preceding the contribution payment (even though they are not obligated to hire a person with a disability).
• An employer with more than 20 employees who has not hired a person with a disability, and was under an obligation, must pay a special contribution for the employment of persons with disabilities for each unfilled position at a rate of 20% of the average monthly salary in Montenegro earned in the year preceding the contribution payment.

Employing people with disabilities is an important step towards building an inclusive society, and the subsidies that employers can receive make this process more accessible and beneficial.

The Perfectum Agency is here to provide support at every step of this process.

Our colleagues can assist employers in understanding all legal obligations, as well as the possibilities for subsidies. We offer advice on best practices for hiring persons with disabilities and help in preparing the necessary documentation. By investing in a workforce that includes all members of society, employers not only fulfill legal obligations but also create a positive work environment that can bring numerous benefits.

Contact us to take a step towards more inclusive business practices together.