Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Serbia (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee notes the observations of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia, communicated with the Government’s report.

Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. National Policy on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities. The Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia observes that, despite the special programmes adopted to promote the employment of persons with disabilities, due to the weak economic situation, employers prefer to pay penalties and compensation rather than to employ persons with disabilities. The Government indicates in its report that the National Employment Strategy 2011–20 places particular emphasis on persons with disabilities, who are included in the “hard-to-employ” group of the population. Vocational rehabilitation and employment measures for persons with disabilities are financed by the Budget Fund for the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Promotion of Persons with Disabilities. The Government adds that the National Employment Service has established centres for the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities in Belgrade, Kragujevac, Nis and Novi Sad, where both unemployed persons with disabilities and employers are provided with information on vocational rehabilitation measures and financial incentives for the recruitment of persons with disabilities. The Government reports that, as at 31 December 2013, the number of persons with disabilities registered with the National Employment Service was 20,627, representing 2.68 per cent of the total number of registered unemployed persons. In 2013, 5,659 persons with disabilities took part in employment action programmes. Between 1 January and 31 July 2014, 9,443 persons with disabilities benefited from active employment policy programmes. The Committee notes that in 2013 the Government received support from the European Union to develop training programmes aimed at improving the employability of persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to indicate how the measures taken to improve the employability of persons with disabilities have enabled these persons to obtain and retain employment. Please indicate how vocational rehabilitation measures, including training programmes, take into consideration the various types of disabilities.

Article 4. Positive measures. The Committee notes that special positive measures for the employment of persons with disabilities include: subsidies and incentives for employers hiring workers with disabilities; the implementation of public works, for which persons with disabilities can be engaged; and compulsory employment quota system. The Government indicates that 47 enterprises have been created which are specially designed for the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. It reports that around 1,600 persons with disabilities have been employed by these enterprises. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the outcomes of the positive measures taken, including relevant employment statistics disaggregated by age, sex and type of disability.

Article 5. Consultation with the social partners and other actors. The Government indicates that the social partners and civil society organizations have participated in the development, promotion and implementation of the Law on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities. It emphasizes that the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs and the National Employment Service continuously cooperate with associations of employers, representatives of trade unions, associations and organizations of persons with disabilities and vocational rehabilitation enterprises to promote and seek solutions for the reintegration of persons with disabilities into the labour market. The Committee notes that representatives of the social partners are participating in a working group set up to design a national action plan. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the outcomes of the consultations held with the social partners and with the representative organizations of persons with disabilities on the measures adopted for the vocational reintegration of persons with disabilities into the labour market. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the design and development of the national action plan.