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Merkel visits Integration Company
The German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the di.hako-group in Trappenkamp. At this location, the company manufactures special-purpose vehicles for extensive cleaning, tending and logistics – it is the biggest integration company in Schleswig-Holstein. Di.Hako-Tec and Di.Hako-Log were established as a co-operation between the Hako-Works (Bad Oldesloe) and the northern German Association for Diakonie. The di.hako-group’s turnover is, according to the company, about three million euros.
The Chancellor was impressed after visiting the company. In her opinion, the company is a good example that disabled people do good work. “This is an intelligent and good way for these people”, she said. Georg Kallsen, managing director of the company, confirmed this by saying: “Disabled people are able to achieve high quality, because they are hundred per cent devoted to their work.” Ten years ago, when the company first started, it just wanted “to do something social”, said Peter Speckhahn-Hass, general manager of the company. Meanwhile the disabled employees have reached such an increased output, “that we can’t do without them”.
The German Chancellor outlined the triple advantages of integration companies to the press: the creation and safeguarding of employment, the occupation of disabled people in the open labour market and the savings of social services coming from the authorities.
At the beginning of 2009, Gitta Trauernicht, the Social Minister at that time, granted two million euros development funds. The money is meant for buying, renovating and extending the real estate of the companies in the industrial park “Socialtec”. 80 additional workplaces will be created; disabled persons will occupy 50 of them. „The companies show how persons with and without disabilities work normally together while the results are good for every participant. This way is exemplary”, said Trauernicht.
The Chancellor was impressed after visiting the company. In her opinion, the company is a good example that disabled people do good work. “This is an intelligent and good way for these people”, she said. Georg Kallsen, managing director of the company, confirmed this by saying: “Disabled people are able to achieve high quality, because they are hundred per cent devoted to their work.” Ten years ago, when the company first started, it just wanted “to do something social”, said Peter Speckhahn-Hass, general manager of the company. Meanwhile the disabled employees have reached such an increased output, “that we can’t do without them”.
Chancellor Merkel takes a closer look at the work of the Integration Company
The German Chancellor outlined the triple advantages of integration companies to the press: the creation and safeguarding of employment, the occupation of disabled people in the open labour market and the savings of social services coming from the authorities.
At the beginning of 2009, Gitta Trauernicht, the Social Minister at that time, granted two million euros development funds. The money is meant for buying, renovating and extending the real estate of the companies in the industrial park “Socialtec”. 80 additional workplaces will be created; disabled persons will occupy 50 of them. „The companies show how persons with and without disabilities work normally together while the results are good for every participant. This way is exemplary”, said Trauernicht.
