Long-term protected workplace service
Long-term protected workplace service (LTWS) is aimed at unemployed people who have been found to be incapacitated or partially incapacitated for work. To be successful in future they need long preparation to move into the open labor market and.
The purpose of the LTWS service is to provide people with disabilities with the opportunity to work in a secure and adapted environment.
If necessary, the service provides help in getting back to labor market. When people in need of greater support work in secure conditions, they acquire skills in an environment that is responsive to their needs. It happens a workable pace at the same time by providing necessary guidance and support.
Target audience of the service
The target group of the PKT service is persons of working age with reduced working capacity, who have
all of the following conditions are met:
- the person is of working age (from the age of 16 until the age of retirement)
target persons less than six months before retirement;
- the person has been found to be incapacitated for work under the Working Capacity Allowance Act
or is recognized as partially (80-90%) or totally (100%) incapacitated by the state under the Pension Insurance Act;
- the person has a severe, profound or persistent mental disorder, compound disability, visual impairment
or has suffered from a traumatic brain injury or brain injury;
- The individual is able to work purposefully for an average of 10 hours per week in the end of Phase I
A person on a PKT service may not simultaneously receive:
- Job Support Service (from the Social Insurance Agency);
- short-term sheltered employment service (Unemployment Insurance Fund).
- Clients in Phases I and II of the PKT service may not work under a employment contract at the same time
or provide a service under the law of obligations with any person (except
volunteer contract with the service provider in phase I and contract with the service provider in phase II).
Long-term sheltered work service is divided into three stages.
- The first, preparatory phase, involves testing and practicing different types of work. In this phase the skills are developed and people's performance is assessed. The first phase lasts four to six months. During this time it becomes clear whether the individual is able to continue with the second phase. During the first phase, the recipient is paid a scholarship (€ 3.84 per day) and a travel allowance (€ 0.1 km).
- The aim of the second phase is to maintain working skills and work in secure conditions. The second phase is divided into a base period and a continuation period. In the second phase, the client works under secure conditions with the service provider for at least 40 hours a month and receives a minimum wage.
The main purpose of the second phase is to develop the client's work habits during three years period. To develop work skills and to find possible suitable work is a crucial goal. Emphasis is placed on the person's intensive development of certain skills and finding them on open labor market.
If, within three years, no suitable workplace is found, the person may continue working for the service provider during the extension period.
- In the third stage, the person enters an open labor market. The service provider advises and supports both the client as well as employer and colleagues in the transition. It takes everyone's effort to transfer on of secured conditions to the real employment up to 12 months as required.
The North Estonian Blind Association offers the following LTWS service positions:
- ceramicist
- masseur
- janitor
- cleaner
- audio file editor
- carpet weaver
- IT consultant
Requesting a service
In order to receive long-term protected workplace service, a person or his legal representative must apply to the Social Security Agency. The application form can be found here (43.35 KB, DOCX).
The application can be submitted:
digitally signed by e-mail to pkt@sotsiaalkindlustusamet.ee;
by post to. Lai 14, Pärnu, 80010 Pärnu County;
Social Security Department customer service.
Long-term sheltered work is provided on a project basis.