[Considerations for the continuing development of vocational rehabilitation from the viewpoint of the Federal Institute for Employment].

The law on enhancing growth and employment (Wachstums- und Beschäftigungsförderungsgesetz-WFG) of September 25, 1996 has entailed fundamental changes in the law governing vocational rehabilitation under the employment promotion act (Arbeitsförderungsgesetz-AFG). While a legal entitlement existed so far, vocational rehabilitation benefits, as of January 1, 1997, on principle are granted as discretionary benefits. In the employment promotion reform bill (Arbeitsförderungs-Reformgesetz-AFRG) awaiting passage in 1997, the former legal entitlement is reestablished in those cases where special vocational rehabilitation benefits and services are needed due to the type or severity of disability, or for safeguarding rehabilitation success. The WFG is to bring about a 500 million DM reduction in vocational rehabilitation spending by the federal employment service Bundesanstalt für Arbeit (BA). This targetted economy also is adhered to notwithstanding the said major expansion of legal entitlement. Already before passage of the WFG, the BA's governing board had set up a working group to look into the issue of developing vocational rehabilitation further. Subjects dealt with had included cooperation among rehabilitation agencies; participant structure in vocational retraining centre programmes; programmes offered; quality assurance; and cost structures in retraining centres. In the wake of the working group's deliberations, the board passed revised provisions for programme participation in vocational retraining centres, and decided on December 18, 1996 that, as of April 1, 1998 a new settlement procedure should be introduced with the vocational rehabilitation facilities, with specific programme-related prices on the basis of agreed quality standards.