For over 20 years, the “Häng mé på party” cruise has been organized for people with disabilities every year. Bingo, air guitar and performances have been on the schedule as cruise number 21 took place this week. – For me, it was the most life-affirming and enriching thing I’ve done in many years, says the presenter Rickard Olsson, who was the emcee on this year’s cruise. The trip for next year is already booked. But how it will look – no one knows. Criticized EU directives hinder assistance As of October 1, everyone who works in municipalities and regions will have to have at least 11 hours of scheduled 24-hour rest, due to the EU’s new directive. A two-day cruise will therefore mean that those who have a municipally employed personal assistant need at least two with them on the trip. A 24-hour pass will only be approved in exceptional cases, and a so-called MBL negotiation will be required for each individual case. – An impossibility, says Mattias Olsberg. “Unworthy” It was his mother who started the tradition more than 20 years ago. Nowadays, he is the one who arranges the trips. – This means something very special to them. It is a sanctuary that they can come to once every year, says Mattias Olsberg and continues: – There is a risk that it will now be taken away from them. So I am worried, many people are affected and it is the weakest in society who do it. Even Rickard Olsson rages against the new directives. – Imagine having to negotiate every time you go on an excursion, to see if it’s worth it. It is incredibly undignified, he says. According to several of the country’s municipalities, the new working time rules will cause major problems – and believe that the directives on mandatory 24-hour rest will make it more difficult for care staffing. Several healthcare workers have also threatened to resign. Others have called the directives a “disaster” “You know how much you have to fight” Rickard Olsson says that he is worried about what this will mean for people covered by LSS. – Those who are parents of LSS children know how much you have to fight against the municipality in order for your child to have a full life. For LSS to work, he says. – Now comes this EU directive which means that assistants’ hours are limited. And they don’t get to work hard enough to be able to go on excursions like this. According to him, a tug-of-war will take place between LSS and EU directives, which he believes go against LSS’ guarantee of a “good standard of living”. There the municipalities will be forced to violate one of them. – I don’t understand why people don’t stand up and just shout. Because this is the biggest stull sample from a desk that I’ve seen in a long time, says Rickard Olsson.
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