Par Khaled Z.
Intended to provide long-term support to people with specific needs, Executive Decree 26-99, published in Official Journal number 13, authorizes and encourages the creation
“work support establishments”. These future centers, placed under the responsibility of the Ministry of National Solidarity or associations of a humanitarian and social nature, will have to offer a “protected work” framework, in addition to ensuring remuneration for the work provided. The Ministry of Solidarity, in a press release published yesterday, welcomed this decision by the State, which constitutes a means of “guaranteeing the social and professional integration of adults with disabilities”.
In this sense, the new decree, signed by Prime Minister Mr. Sifi Ghrieb specifies the conditions for the creation, organization and operation of “work assistance establishments”. The latter, halfway between a training center, a health establishment and a traditional company, will have to provide support adapted to people with specific needs. Article 2 explains that the mission and role expected by the State is to provide “educational, social, medical and psychological support. The choice to authorize “paid work” is presented as a means of promoting people’s “social and professional autonomy”. These new centers are, in fact, a framework capable of providing long-term support. Particularly in the medical, educational, social, psychological and professional fields.
A means of action for associations
Thus, in addition to the “public” establishments created and placed under the supervision of the Minister responsible for National Solidarity, the decree also authorizes “associations of a humanitarian and social nature” to make full use of this mode of action. Article 7 specifies, however, that the spaces created within the associative framework ensure the same “public service mission”. In this logic, and in order to reassure families in the face of possible exploitation of people’s work, it is explained that the authorities implement all the provisions for the protection of those admitted. The latter remain oriented towards the centers “by decision of the wilaya commission for special education and professional guidance”. They also benefit, according to article 10, from all legislative and regulatory provisions relating to social security, hygiene, safety and occupational medicine and from remuneration in return for the work provided.
As for the types of activities that will be authorized, the text remains very broad, but emphasizes that the creation of establishments by an association “is subject to prior authorization from the Minister responsible for National Solidarity”. The validation of projects, in addition to the conformity of administrative and technical files, requires subscription to strict specifications or an inspection visit to the premises and the presentation of a list of teaching staff, indicating the diplomas and qualifications required.
Furthermore, the decree, in its “article 20”, mentions the creation of “educational farms” as a possible example of a protected work establishment. This type of center is able to provide people with specific needs with “fulfillment through the exercise of activities related to the field of agriculture and livestock”. A field of activity also making it possible to ensure remuneration for workers. The organization of establishments authorizes the production of goods but also to offer subcontracting services or to sell the products produced by workers.
New accessibility rules
In this same logic of integrating people with specific needs, a second decree, “26-98”, for its part, reinforces the standards for accessibility at the level of “physical, social, economic and cultural environments”. Concretely, the text specifies new “architectural and development provisions” for buildings and public places so that they are accessible to specific needs with reduced mobility, in particular those who use wheelchairs. These new rules must be applied to new buildings housing institutions, administrations, establishments and public services. Same thing for schools, health structures or even buildings intended for religious practices… Provisions which should also become widespread during transformation work on existing buildings.
