VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION and EMPLOYMENT of DISABLED PERSONS International Labour Conference 86Th Session 1998
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INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE 86th SESSION 1998 R^/ÓBILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE-GENEVA VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS International Labour Conference 86th Session 1998 Report III (Part IB) Third item on the agenda: Information and reports on the application of Conventions and Recommendations General Survey on the reports on the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention (No. 159) and Recommendation (No. 168), 1983 Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (articles 19, 22 and 35 of the Constitution) VOCATIONAL Wl/.ÎlBlLITATION AND EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS INTERNATIONAL LABOUR OFFICE'GENEVA ISBN 92-2-110652-7 ISSN 0074-6681 First published 1998 The publication of information concerning action taken in respect of international labour Conventions and Recommendations does not imply any expression of view by the International Labour Office on the legal status of the State having communicated such information (including the communication of a ratification or declaration), or on its authority over the areas or territories in respect of which such information is communicated; in certain cases this may present problems on which the ILO is not competent to express an opinion. ILO publications can be obtained through major booksellers or ILO local offices in many countries, or direct from ILO Publications, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. A catalogue or list of new publications will be sent free of charge from the above address. Printed in Switzerland ATA SUMMARY Paragraphs Introduction 1-50 Chanter 1. Definitions and scope 51-92 Chapter 2. Basis and scope of state obligations 93-200 Chapter 3. Vocational rehabilitation under social security schemes 201-216 Chapter 4. Difficulties of application of the instruments and prospects for ratification 217-243 Concluding remarks 244-254 Appendices REP3IB.E98 CONTENTS Paragraphs Introduction 1-50 1. General remarks 1 2. Background and review of standards 2-20 3. Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities 21-23 4. Other relevant international labour standards 24-25 5. Practical activities of the ILO 26-31 6. Summary of the standards 32-44 6.1. Content of the Convention 32-35 6.2. Content of the Recommendation 36-44 7. Status of ratifications 45 8. Available information 46-49 9. Outline of the survey 50 Chapter 1. Definitions and scope 51-92 1. The concept of disability 51-56 2. Terminology 57-59 Section I. Definition of the term "disabled person" 60-72 I. Criteria for identifying occupational and social disability 62-69 II. Method of determining disability status 70-72 Section II. Persons covered by the instruments 73-78 Section III. Definition of vocational rehabilitation 79-82 Section IV. Subject-matter covered by the instruments 83-89 Section V. The role of non-governmental organizations 90-92 Chapter 2. Basis and scope of state obligations 93-200 Section I. Obligations of the State: Vocational rehabilitation and employment . 93-150 I. Basic principles of the national policy 95-120 II. Obligation to formulate and periodically review a national policy .... 121-134 III. Consultation of representative organizations 135-144 IV. Promotion of vocational rehabilitation and employment services in rural areas and remote communities 145-150 Section II. Obligations of the State with regard to vocational rehabilitation . 151-183 I. Competent authorities and coordination of their activities 153-158 II. Delegation of government responsibilities to local authorities 159-160 III. Cooperation and coordination for the provision of vocational rehabilitation services 161-167 IV. Use of existing vocational rehabilitation services for workers generally 168-170 REP31B.E98 viii Report of the Committee of Experts Paragraphs V. Training and availability of rehabilitation counsellors and qualified staff 171-177 VI. Sheltered employment 178-183 Section III. Obligations of the State with regard to employment 184-200 I. Promotion of employment opportunities for disabled persons in the open labour market 185-195 II. Subsidies for adaptations to workplaces 196-197 III. Hiring subsidies 198-199 IV. Tax incentives 200 Chapters. Vocational rehabilitation under social security schemes 201-216 Section I. National provisions relating to occupational injury and disease compensation 209-210 Section II. National provisions relating to disability insurance schemes 211-216 Chapter 4. Difficulties of application of the instruments and prospects for ratification 217-243 Section I. Difficulties of application 217-231 Section II. Prospects for ratification 232-243 Concluding remarks 244-254 Appendices I. Texts of Convention No. 159 and Recommendation No. 168 II. Text of Recommendation No. 99 III. Ratifications of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) IV. Table of reports due and received on the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention (No. 159) and Recommendation (No. 168), 1983 (article 19 of the Constitution) REP31B.E98 INTRODUCTION 1. General remarks 1. In accordance with article 19 of the Constitution of the International Labour Organization, the Governing Body of the International Labour Office decided at its 258th Session (November 1993) to invite governments to submit reports on the position of their law and practice regarding the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention (No. 159) and Recommendation (No. 168), 1983.' The reports supplied in pursuance of that decision, together with those submitted in accordance with articles 22 and 35 of the ILO Constitution by the States which have ratified the Convention, have enabled the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations, in accordance with its usual practice, to carry out the first General Survey on the effect given to these instruments both in States which have ratified the Convention and in those which have not. 2. Background and review of standards 2. Very shortly after its inception, the International Labour Organization took up the question of disabled persons and invalids and where they stood vis-à- vis the world of work. Its first initiative in the field of vocational rehabilitation dates back to 1921, when it explored how the obligation to employ disabled ex- servicemen and methods of placing disabled persons in employment might be introduced in national legislation. As a result of the conclusions adopted by the experts consulted and the legislative measures that were proposed, the vocational needs of disabled workers gained international recognition for the first time in 1925, when the International Labour Conference adopted a Recommendation on compensation for industrial accidents.2 Relegated to the background during the economic depression of the thirties, the question of rehabilitation once again came to the fore during the Second World War with the resurgence of interest in people with disabilities, partly because their numbers had grown as a result of the war and partly because disabled civilians had demonstrated their ability to fill the posts left vacant by mobilized workers, particularly in commerce and industry, to good 1 See full text of Convention No. 159 and Recommendation No. 168 in Appendix I. 2 The Workmen's Compensation (Minimum Scale) Recommendation, 1925 (No. 22). REP31B.E98 Report of the Committee of Experts effect. Thus, the international community deemed it necessary to enshrine in standards to be applied universally, and to implement by concerted action at various levels, the right of disabled persons to benefit from appropriate medical and occupational adaptation and rehabilitation with a view to enjoying social and occupational integration on an equal footing with other members of the community. 3. In 1944 the International Labour Conference adopted a Recommendation concerning workers with diminished capacity, which affirmed that disabled persons, whatever the origin of their disability, should be provided with full opportunities for specialized vocational guidance, vocational training, functional and occupational rehabilitation and employment on useful work.3 However, it was in 1955 that the Conference first discussed the important question of the services to be made available to disabled persons and unanimously adopted the Vocational Rehabilitation (Disabled) Recommendation, 1955 (No. 99),4 and until the adoption of Convention No. 159 and Recommendation No. 168, it was this international instrument which served as the basis for all national legislation and practice concerning vocational guidance, vocational training and placement of disabled persons. Furthermore, Recommendation No. 99 contains basic standards to which non-governmental organizations can refer in order to ascertain the internationally accepted components of vocational rehabilitation and the means of applying them. 4. The resolution concerning vocational rehabilitation of disabled persons and the resolution concerning disabled workers, adopted by the International Labour Conference, in 1965 and 1968 respectively, focus on the efforts required to widen vocational rehabilitation opportunities for disabled persons. 5. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, drafted in close collaboration with the ILO and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 16 December 1966,5 lays down the obligation