Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Domna Mikhailidouas part of Duo Day, shared all her daily activities with young Efthymis Tsigas, who has Asperger’s Syndrome.

Eftimis accompanied the Deputy Minister in her television interview with ANT1 and participated in all meetings with her partners. Together they visited the Municipal Theater of Piraeus, where they were shown around its premises and informed the artistic director Lefteris Iovanidis about the history of the theater as well as the new artistic program.

Efthimis also attended the speech of Ms. Michaelidou at the Day of Information and Awareness organized by the Municipality of Piraeus, with
in order to strengthen the social inclusion of vulnerable groups in the municipality.

The Deputy Minister, together with the Prime Minister, is participating for the second year in this European action, which takes place every year on November 18 as part of the European Disabled Employment Week.

This year, after the mobilization of Ms. Mikhailidou, the Minister of Territories, Mr. Akis Skertsos, and the Secretary of the New Democracy Political Committee, Mr. Pavlos Marinakis, took part in the action.

The goal of DUO DAY is to reconcile the world of employment with people with disabilities. Thus, people with mental disorders come into contact with government agencies, private companies, as well as ordinary citizens, to get to know their working environment and see how they work.

The Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs noted: “Today, Efthimis and I shared all the daily affairs and we had the opportunity to discuss his interests, as well as his integration into the labor market. And such actions as DUO DAY have a special symbolism for us. Because the goal is twofold. On the one hand, a person with a disability has the opportunity to see everyday life in a working environment, and the second and most important is the understanding by society that disability is not helplessness, but a difference from normality.

“And today we are taking another step towards inclusive employment. For three years now, our main concern has been the labor rehabilitation and support of our fellow citizens with disabilities. Because every disabled person should have equal opportunities in the labor market and feel useful in a society where he can develop his skills. That is why, with the help of programs such as the employment of people on the autism spectrum, as well as the Personal Assistant, we are strengthening their inclusion in the labor market. However, in these efforts we must be all together: the state, private initiative and citizens. To finally make an invisible disability visible at work.”