Only half of employers in Latvia are ready to hire disabled persons, former convicts and people with chronic conditions, informs LETA, according to a Kantar TNS survey commissioned by the Society Integration Foundation.

The survey reveals that 54% of entrepreneurs in Latvia are ready to provide jobs to former convicts, 52% would agree to hire people suffering from chronic illnesses and 49% would be ready to employ disabled people with mobility impairments.





When asked about reasons for reluctance to hire such employees, 20% of respondents named stereotypes, 13% cited shortages of resources, eight% mentioned the need to focus on surviving in the current economic situation and five% cited lack of understanding.





According to the survey, 79% of employers would be ready to hire sexual minorities, 66% would employ refugees and 29% of entrepreneurs would provide jobs to persons with mental conditions.





To attract new employees, 20% of employers are ready to adjust workplaces for disabled persons’ needs, 14% provide support to employees who want to return to Latvia from foreign countries, and 6% support child care services such as babysitting services. At the same time, 24% of employers are doing nothing to attract new employees.





The survey included 405 executives and staff managers from private, state-owned and municipal companies, as well as foundations and organizations. The survey was conducted from October 24 to November 3.