The Equal Opportunities Ombudsman Office recently concluded an investigation into two complaints, determining that the Social Protection and Labour Ministry (SPM) violated the provisions of the Equal Opportunities Act through its method of distributing state support. The complainants reported significant systemic barriers encountered while attempting to access the necessary services. Specifically, they noted substantial difficulty navigating the application portal using the screen reader program, SPIS.
This technical hurdle resulted in the process taking considerably longer for applicants with disabilities compared to those without such impairments. Compounding the accessibility issues were reports of system crashes and an overly restrictive 10-minute time limit for final application submission. The complainants argued that the current procedural requirement—which establishes the speed of submission as a key criterion for receiving a subsidy—effectively undermines the opportunity for fair competition for state support.
They asserted that this structure creates an unequal playing field. The Ombudsman’s findings highlight that the SPM’s operational procedures failed to ensure equal access to vital resources. While the primary focus remains on digital accessibility and procedural fairness, the report also included a secondary caution regarding general best practices.
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Topics: #ministry #support #equal
