13/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - An OECD report entitled Sickness, Disability and Work: Breaking the Barriers says that Poland, Norway and Switzerland should do more to reduce the number of people claiming sickness benefit and help more disabled people to get jobs. According to the report, government spending on sickness and disability accounted for 2.4% of GDP across OECD countries in 2004, nearly double the spending on unemployment benefits, which accounted for 1.3% of GDP in the same year. While many people in receipt of disability benefits wanted to work and could do so if given the proper training and support, the report notes that, in Poland in particular, little help is given to disabled people to find work, thus contributing to their “exceptionally low employment rate”. While noting that the three countries had recently taken steps that went some way to improving the situation, the OECD stresses the need to improved cooperation between all the parties involved - social insurance, public employment services, medical authorities and vocational rehabilitation authorities. (Information: christopher.prinz@oecd.org, patrick.andersson@oecd.org or michael.forster@oecd.org) (mg)