The Federal Commissioner for the Needs of Persons with Disabilities, Karin Evers-Meyer (Social Democrats), has recently reacted to public demands to exclude vocational rehabilitation from the Federal Employment Agency’s responsibilities. With regard to reducing unemployment insurance contributions, it had been argued that professional rehabilitation was not a main task of the agency. Karin Evers-Meyer supports contribution cuts. She underlines however, that rehabilitation of persons with disabilities is a task that should not be submitted to economic fluctuations. On the contrary, rehabilitation should be aligned with the effective integration needs. According to Evers-Meyer, the existence of economic risks should not involve the exposure of the most vulnerable groups in our society.

Furthermore, rehabilitation services should not be shifted from one agency to the other, as long as their funding is not secured. Well-tried and successful structures may not be harmed. Karin Evers-Meyer therefore concludes, that vocational rehabilitation remains a main task of the Federal Employment Agency, since there is no serious alternative.