Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Pakistan (RATIFICATION: 1994)

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The Committee notes the observations of the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan (EFP) and the Pakistan Workers’ Federation (PWF) incorporated in the Government’s report.

Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention. Promotion of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Committee previously noted that a 2 per cent quota was fixed for the employment of persons with disabilities in all state-related employment and asked the Government to provide further information on the measures taken in the context of its policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Government indicates in its report that the overall vision of the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities aims to provide by 2025 an environment that would allow full realization of the potential of persons with disabilities by ensuring, inter alia, that they are able to enjoy their rights and opportunities as other citizens do. The Government adds that the 2 per cent quota has also been reserved for persons with disabilities in all the provinces, in both the public and private sectors. Furthermore, the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authorities (TEVTAs) have set a 5 per cent quota for persons with disabilities for training courses conducted by TEVTA institutions. The Committee notes from the report that in the Province of Punjab, a Home for Persons with Disabilities was established to provide training and rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities; moreover, District Assessment Boards were established in 36 districts of that Province to provide registration and issuance of disability certificates. In this regard, the Committee notes that 118,432 disability certificates were issued in the Province of Punjab. With respect to the Province of Sindh, the Government indicates that the Special Education Department in the Government of Sindh has also implemented decisions of the National Council for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (NCRDP) regarding the employment quota of persons with disabilities in the public sector. According to the 1998 Census, there are about 3,286,630 persons with disabilities in Pakistan (about 2.54 per cent of the population). In its observations, the PWF recommends for the provision of further statistical information, such as the total number of employed persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken in the context of its policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities at the federal and provincial levels. It also requests the Government to include relevant information supported by statistics, disaggregated by sex, on the implementation of the Convention at the federal and provincial levels.

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Promotion of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the report submitted by the Government in December 2012, including replies to the points raised in previous comments and information collected by the National Council for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (NCRDP). The Committee recalls the remarks made by the Pakistan Workers’ Federation (PWF) in 2010 indicating that the vocational education and training facilities provided by the State to the rehabilitation of workers with disabilities are insufficient. The PWF also suggested that the Government should increase the quotas for the employment of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors so that they can be rehabilitated and obtain gainful employment after receiving vocational education and training. The Government indicates that it is focusing its efforts on education and training of persons with disabilities within its available resources. A 2 per cent quota is fixed for the employment of persons with disabilities in all state-related employment. It further reports that provincial labour departments are responsible to ensure a 2 per cent quota in commercial and industrial establishments. A separate department for special education is working in all the provinces which are responsible for the provision of education to children with disabilities in various educational institutions. Information collected by the NCRDP provides that the number of persons with disabilities employed in relation to the 2 per cent quota in the province of Punjab was 1,507 in 2010 and 1,726 in 2011. The Government indicates that relevant data is also being collected at the federal level and that, once the information is compiled, it will be forwarded to the ILO. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report further information on the measures taken in the context of its policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities at the federal and provincial levels (Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention). It also invites the Government to continue to include relevant information supported by statistics, disaggregated by gender, on the implementation of the Convention at the federal and provincial levels (Part V of the report form). Please also supply further information on the activities of the NCRDP.

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Promotion of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the report submitted by the Government in June 2011 including a copy of the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981. The Government states that it is complying with the provisions of the Convention through the application of the abovementioned Ordinance. It also indicates that organizations are required to employ persons with disabilities according to fixed quotas which are notified by the federal and provincial governments. The Government further reports that Special Education Departments are functioning in all four provinces to educate children with disabilities and to rehabilitate them through vocational training. The Committee recalls the remarks made by the Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) indicating that the vocational education and training facilities provided by the State to the rehabilitation of workers with disabilities are insufficient. PWF also suggested that the Government should increase the quotas for the employment of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors so that they can be rehabilitated and obtain gainful employment after receiving vocational education and training. The Committee refers to its previous comments and asks the Government to provide information on measures taken in the context of its policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, both at federal and provincial levels (Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention). The Committee also asks the Government to include relevant information supported by statistics disaggregated by sex on the implementation of the Convention, as well as on the activities of the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (NCRDP) (Part V of the report form).

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2012.]

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Promotion of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the remarks made by the Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) in the comments forwarded to the Government in August 2010. PWF indicates that the vocational education and training facilities allocated by the State to the rehabilitation of workers with disabilities are very meagre. PWF also suggests that the Government should allocate more quotas for the employment of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors so that they can be rehabilitated and obtain gainful employment after receiving vocational education and training. The Committee recalls its 2005 and 2009 direct requests and again asks the Government to provide information on measures taken in the context of its policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, both at federal and provincial levels (Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention). The Government is invited to include relevant information on the application of the Convention in practice, particularly on the activities of the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (NCRDP) (Part V of the report form).

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2011.]

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It asks the Government to provide information on the measures taken in the context of policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, both at federal and provincial levels (Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention) and to provide any relevant information on the application of the Convention in practice, particularly on the activities of the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (NCRDP) (Part V of the report form).

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2010.]

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The Committee notes the Government’s report received in January 2005. It asks the Government to include, in its next report, further indication on the measures taken in the context of policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, both at federal and provincial levels (Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention) and to provide any relevant information on the application of the Convention in practice, particularly on the activities of the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons (NCRDP) (Part V of the report form).

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The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1999. It notes that the Government confines itself to referring to its previous report, without replying to the questions raised by the Committee in its previous direct request. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide additional information on the following points.

Article 5 of the Convention. With reference to sections 3 and 5 of the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981 (No. XL), the Committee notes that one representative of registered trade unions is appointed to each of the provincial councils for the rehabilitation of disabled persons. It requests the Government to describe the manner in which representatives of employers' organizations are consulted on the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and the employment of persons with disabilities, and to indicate whether representative organizations of and for disabled persons are consulted on the implementation of the above policy.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information concerning the establishment of training centres to impart vocational training to disabled persons throughout the country. It requests the Government to describe in detail the measures taken at the federal and provincial levels with a view to providing and evaluating vocational guidance, vocational training, placement, employment and other related services to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment, in accordance with this Article of the Convention.

Article 9. The Committee notes the indication that rehabilitation staff are professionally qualified and it requests the Government to indicate the measures which have been taken to ensure the training and availability of such personnel.

Furthermore, the Committee notes a communication of July 1999 from the All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions according to which no legislative measures have been adopted to give effect to the Convention, despite the Federation's efforts to call upon the Government to adopt such measures. The Committee requests the Government, to which the Office transmitted a copy of the above communication, to make any comments which it deems appropriate in reply to the allegations made by the All Pakistan Federation of Trade Unions.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2001.]

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The Committee notes with interest the information supplied by the Government in its first report. It would be grateful if the Government would supply additional information on the following points:

Article 5 of the Convention. With reference to sections 3 and 5 of the Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981 (No. XL), the Committee notes that one representative of registered trade unions is appointed to the national and to each of the provincial councils for the rehabilitation of disabled persons. It requests the Government to describe in detail the manner in which representatives of employers' organizations are consulted on the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons, and to indicate whether representative organizations of and for disabled persons are consulted on the implementation of the said policy.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information concerning the establishment of training centres to impart vocational training to disabled persons throughout the country. Please describe in detail the measures which have been taken both at the federal and provincial level with a view to providing and evaluating vocational guidance, placement, employment and related services to enable disabled persons to secure, retain and advance in employment, in accordance with this Article.

Article 9. The Committee notes from the Government's report that the rehabilitation staff are professionally qualified. Please indicate the measures which have been taken to ensure its training and availability.