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

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Zambia (Ratification: 1989)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment for persons with disabilities. The Government indicates in its report that the National Disability Policy was approved by Cabinet, together with the National Implementation Plan. The Committee notes that the national policy aims at ensuring that disability is “mainstreamed across government ministries”; however, the policy has not yet been launched. The Committee further notes the enactment of the National Security Protection Policy which focuses on reducing poverty, inequality and vulnerability. One of its five pillars, disability, aims at capacity building for persons with disabilities through training, financial assistance and the establishment of apprentice vocational training centres. The Government recognizes that the lack of data on disability in the country has led to the development of the Disability Management Information System (DMIS). Data collected through the DMIS will be disaggregated based on sex, occupation, income assistance devices, rehabilitation sports and health needs and will assist in planning and programming further initiatives. Moreover, the 2015 National Disability Survey, the first survey wholly dedicated to disability, was launched and data has been collected in June and July 2015. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the policies and programmes implemented. It also requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the National Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre and other initiatives, and how they extend to persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities. Please also include findings based on the data collected through the DMIS and the 2015 National Disability Survey, and how these translate into planning and programming further activities.

Articles 3 and 4. Promotion of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Government states that, in line with section 39 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2012, the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) has begun implementing measures to ensure that a prescribed percentage of positions in the public and private sectors is reserved for persons with disabilities. In order to build consensus between all stakeholders and to ensure public support, the Government states that this process entails consultations with the Public Employment Exchange services, the Zambia Federation of Employees and others. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the implementation of the Persons with Disability Act, 2012, and on other programmes and measures adopted to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the open labour market. Please also provide information on the developments concerning reserved employment positions in the public and private sectors for persons with disabilities.

Article 7. Vocational training and employment services for persons with disabilities. The Government recalls that the empowerment programmes of ZAPD’s National Trust Fund for Persons with Disabilities continue to provide microcredit to persons with disabilities in order to enable them to engage in livelihood activities. The Government also refers to the statutory prohibition of discrimination on the basis of disability in employment in the Persons with Disability Act, 2012, which further ensures the precedence of the National Disability Law over any legislation on the sub-constitutional level. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on the number of persons with disabilities that have participated in empowerment programmes, such as the microcredit programmes, and on other vocational training and employment measures taken to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment.