Legal bases

Relevant laws and ordinances

• "Sozialgesetzbuch IX" (Code of Social Law (SGB), Vol. IX) – Rehabilitation of disabled persons and participation of disabled persons in life in society
• "Gesetz zur Gleichstellung behinderter Menschen" (Act on Equal Opportunities for the Disabled)
  An introduction to the Act, including a German sign-language version, is available on the website of the Federal Government Commissioner for the Interests of the Disabled
  
• "Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz" (General Equal Treatment Act)
  This act aims to prevent and abolish discrimination on the grounds of race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or ideology, disability, age or sexual identity.
  
• "Gesetz zur Förderung der Ausbildung und Beschäftigung schwerbehinderter Menschen" (Act to Promote Training and Employment of People with Serious Disabilities), 23 April 2004
  The main content of the Act (Federal Law Gazette, page 606) can also be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
  
• "Eingliederungshilfeverordnung" (Ordinance on Integration Assistance, relating to Section 47 of the "Bundessozialhilfegesetz" (Federal Social Assistance Act))
• "Frühförderungsverordnung" (Ordinance on Early Intervention)
• "Kommunikationshilfenverordnung" (Ordinance on Communication Aids)
  Ordinance on the use of sign language and other communication aids in administrative procedures, as required by the "Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz" (Act on Equal Opportunities for the Disabled)
  
• "Kraftfahrzeughilfe-Verordnung" (Ordinance on Assistance with the Financing of Vehicles)
• "Schwerbehinderten-Ausgleichsabgabeverordnung" (Ordinance on Levies Charged for Failure to Employ Severely Disabled Persons)
• "Schwerbehindertenausweisverordnung" (Ordinance on Passes for Severely Disabled Persons)
• "Budgetverordnung" (Budget Ordinance), which implements Section 17, Sub-sections 2 to 4 of the Ninth Volume of the "Sozialgesetzbuch" (Code of Social Law)
• "Verordnung zur Schaffung barrierefreier Informationstechnik nach dem Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz" (Ordinance on the Design of Barrier-Free Information Technology as required by the Act on Equal Opportunities for the Disabled)
  An introduction to the concept of "barrier-free design , including a German sign-language version, is available on the website of the Federal Government Commissioner for the Interests of the Disabled.
  
• "Verordnung über barrierefreie Dokumente in der Bundesverwaltung" (Ordinance on Barrier-Free Documents in the Federal Government's Administration Practice)
  Ordinance requiring documents in administrative procedures to be made accessible for blind and visually impaired persons, as required by the Act on Equal Opportunities for the Disabled) 
  
• "Wahlordnung Schwerbehindertenvertretung" (Rules for the Election of Representatives for Severely Disabled Persons)
• "Werkstättenmitwirkungsverordnung" (Ordinance on Involvement in Workshop Affairs)
• "Werkstättenverordnung" (Ordinance on Workshops for the Disabled)
   
  

Additional information concerning legal bases

• Extract from the "Kraftfahrzeugsteuergesetz" (Act on Motor Vehicle Tax)/Concessions for severely disabled persons
• Comprehensive information regarding the planned "Antidiskriminierungsgesetz" (Anti-Discrimination Act)
  The Act is intended to prevent people being discriminated against due to their race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or ideology, disability, age or sexual identity. It provides the legal basis for ensuring that discriminatory behaviour towards disabled persons can be adequately punished.
  
• Impact of the "GKV-Modernisierungsgesetz" (Act on the Modernisation of Statutory Health Insurance)
   
  

Example rulings

• Company must pay "failure to employ severely disabled persons" levy
  Even companies which cannot take on severely disabled persons due to the nature of their business have to pay the levy prescribed by law for failure to employ severely disabled persons.
  
• Special protection against dismissal during ongoing proceedings to grant "severely disabled person" status
  Special protection against dismissal for severely disabled persons still applies even if the severe disability has not yet been established at the time of dismissal during ongoing proceedings at an "Arbeitsagentur" (employment agency) to grant "severely disabled person" status. Section 90, Subsection 2a of Volume IX of the Code of Social Law does not apply since it expressly refers only to ongoing proceedings to grant "severely disabled person" status being dealt with by the "Versorgungsamt" office.
  
• Repeated refusal to work overtime – Dismissal without notice justified
  Employees who repeatedly refuse to work overtime risk being dismissed without notice.