Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Mali (Ratification: 1995)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

The Committee takes note of the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee proceeded with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the supplementary information received from the Government this year, as well as on the basis of the information at its disposal in 2019.

Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention. National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report on the application of the Convention for the period up to 1 September 2019. The Committee notes that a strategic plan for the protection of persons with disabilities was adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2014. The Government indicates that the Strategic Plan covers the period 2015–2024 but that it is lagging far behind in the mobilization of resources. However, the Committee notes with interest that Act No. 2018-027 of 12 June 2018 on the rights of persons living with disabilities was adopted to promote and protect the rights of persons living with disabilities. Sections 15 to 19 are dedicated to vocational training and employment of persons with disabilities. With regard to employment, it is envisaged in particular that graduates living with disabilities will benefit from specific measures to promote their recruitment in the public and private sectors. The Government indicates that the implementing decree is currently being drafted with the participation of persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the implementation and periodic revision of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, including on the impact of the Strategic Plan for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities (2015–2024). The Committee requests the Government to include information on the measures adopted under the Strategic Plan and the impact that they have had on the labour market integration of workers with disabilities, including mental disabilities. The Committee also requests the Government to include information on the implementation of Act No. 2018-027 of 12 June 2018 on the rights of persons living with disabilities, as well as its impact on the labour market integration of workers with disabilities.

Article 4. Equality of opportunity and treatment. The Committee notes that, in accordance with section 19 of Act No. 2018-027, public bodies and private enterprises reserve a quota of jobs for active people living with disabilities, under conditions governed by regulations. The Government indicates that a political decision was taken to grant 5 per cent of job vacancies in the state public service to persons living with disabilities, and an implementing decree is currently being drafted in this regard. The Committee notes that the module on inclusive education is not yet included in the training manual for trainees in teacher training institutes in Mali. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the practical measures taken or envisaged to ensure equality of opportunity between workers with disabilities and workers in general, as well as between men and women workers with disabilities. The Committee further requests the Government to provide updated and detailed information, including statistics disaggregated by sex, age and economic sector, on the impact of the measures relating to persons living with disabilities on their employment.

Article 5. Consultation with the social partners. In its previous comments, the Commission noted that the Malian Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FEMAPH) had participated in various initiatives, such as the 2009 and 2010 workshops to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made during the 2007 national workshop on the employment of persons with disabilities. The Government indicates, however, that the monitoring of the implementation of the recommendations made during the 2007 national workshop on the employment of persons with disabilities remains tentative. The Committee recalls that consultations with employers’ and workers’ representative organizations take place through the Higher Labour Council. While acknowledging the difficult situation prevailing in the country, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on any developments with regard to the status of the recommendations made during the 2007 national workshop on the employment of persons with disabilities. It once again requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the Higher Labour Council in the field of the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

Article 7. Services accessible to persons with disabilities. The Committee refers to its direct request adopted in 2019 concerning the application of the Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88), in which it noted that section 2 of Order No. 01-016/P-RM of 27 February 2001 provides that the National Employment Agency (ANPE) is responsible for supporting the implementation of vocational training, skills training, retraining and placement activities and for the design and implementation of mechanisms and actions to promote employment, including the employment of persons with disabilities. It also refers to its direct request adopted in 2019 concerning the application of the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), in which it notes that the National Council of Private Employment and Temporary Work Agencies in Mali (CONABEM) collaborated with the FEMAPH in 2015 and 2016 on the labour market integration of persons with disabilities in Mali. The Committee requests the Government to describe the programmes established by the services designed to enable persons with disabilities to secure and retain a job and advance professionally. The Committee invites the Government to describe any other measures adopted or envisaged with a view to providing and evaluating vocational guidance services and vocational training for all persons with disabilities of any kind.

Article 8. Accessible services in rural areas and remote communities. The Committee notes the Government’s intention to implement an information campaign on the provisions relating to the rights of persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated and detailed information on vocational rehabilitation and employment services, including the training and professional guidance available to persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities, as well as detailed information disaggregated by sex, age and region, on the impact of these services.

Article 9. Suitably qualified staff. The Government indicates that it envisages organizing training workshops in the near future for the various stakeholders on the inclusion of persons with disabilities. The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate in its next report the measures taken or envisaged to ensure the availability of suitably qualified vocational rehabilitation staff, as provided for in Article 9 of the Convention.

Part V of the report form. The Committee requests the Government to provide in its next report updated information on the application of the Convention in practice: results of programmes implemented under the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, statistics, extracts from reports or surveys.

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Committee recalls the detailed guidance provided by international labour standards. In this context, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205), which provides guidance on the development and implementation of measures to respond effectively to the profound socio-economic impacts of the pandemic in fields such as education, vocational training and retraining and employment. In particular, Paragraph 7(h) of Recommendation No. 205 provides that in taking measures on employment and decent work in response to crisis situations, Members should take into account the need to pay special attention to population groups and individuals who have been made particularly vulnerable by the crisis, including persons with disabilities. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report updated information on the impact of the global COVID 19 pandemic on the application of the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Articles 1–3 of the Convention. National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. In reply to the previous comments, the Government indicates in its report that the process of the adoption of the Bill on the social protection of persons with disabilities was interrupted due to the institutional and security crisis experienced by the country in 2012. The President of the Republic has since ordered the preparation of a paper on a strategic plan for the protection of persons with disabilities. The process of the preparation of the ten-year strategic plan (2014–23), launched by the Ministry of Solidarity, Humanitarian Action and the Reconstruction of the North, gave rise to the holding of two workshops to examine and validate the preliminary report. The Committee looks forward to examining the progress achieved in the implementation in law and practice of a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee once again invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures adopted on the integration into the labour market of workers with disabilities, and to provide statistics, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention.

Article 4. Equality of opportunity and treatment. The Government, among the measures adopted to ensure equality of opportunity, refers to: the adoption of a national health policy, which includes provision for persons with disabilities; the implementation of a national policy on special education; and the establishment of a national directorate of pre-school and special teaching for the promotion and protection of the rights of children with disabilities. The Committee further notes that a module on inclusive education has been developed by the NGO, Handicap International, in collaboration with the Mali Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (FEMAPH), and that it will be introduced into the initial training for trainees in teacher training institutes as from the 2014–15 school year. The Committee also notes that, in the context of the collaboration between the Ministry of the Public Service and the FEMAPH, between 1997 and 2012, a total of 310 young graduates with disabilities, including 119 women and 191 men, were integrated into the public service. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the practical measures adopted or envisaged to ensure equality of opportunity between workers with disabilities and workers in general, and between men and women workers with disabilities.

Article 5. Consultation of the social partners. The Government indicates that the FEMAPH has participated in various initiatives, such as the 2009 and 2010 workshops to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made during the 2007 national workshop on the employment of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, the strategic plan for the protection of persons with disabilities and its logical framework are both in the process of being developed with the collaboration of the FEMAPH. With regard to the consultation of the representative organizations of employers and workers, the Government indicates that this is carried out within the framework of the Higher Labour Council. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the implementation of the recommendations adopted by workshops in which representative organizations of persons with disabilities are involved. It invites the Government to provide information on the activities of the Higher Labour Council in the field of the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

Article 7. Services accessible to persons with disabilities. The Government reports the various modules envisaged in the training programme of the National Training Institute for Social Workers (INFTS). The Committee notes that the National Directorate of Social Development is being called on increasingly to supervise standards for the construction of ramps in private establishments. In this respect, the Committee notes the guidance provided in March 2014 by the National Director of Urban Planning and Habitat, through a circular, on the attention to be paid to ramps and all other means of access to infrastructure for persons with disabilities, as well as awareness-raising action. The Committee invites the Government to describe any other measures adopted or envisaged with a view to the provision and evaluation of vocational guidance services and vocational training for all persons with disabilities of whatever type.

Article 8. Accessible services in rural areas and remote communities. The Government indicates that, due to difficulties in mobilizing resources, only three of the seven components of the National Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme have begun to be implemented. It nevertheless reports the implementation of several activities, including: the re-examination of the documents establishing and governing the operation of the National Community-Based Rehabilitation Programme; the implementation of an awareness-raising campaign throughout the national territory; the training of the various actors; the establishment of local community-based rehabilitation committees; and the training of 300 socio-sanitary agents on the community-based rehabilitation strategy. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the impact of the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure the establishment of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities.

Article 9. Suitably qualified staff. The Committee once again invites the Government to indicate the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure the availability of suitably qualified vocational rehabilitation staff.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2009 in reply to the 2004 direct request. The Government indicates that, with a view to accelerating the adoption of the Bill on the social protection of persons with disabilities, the Malian Association of Disabled Jurists has undertaken a series of activities including: in 2006, the holding of a national training workshop on institutional diagnostics and organizational strengthening; in 2007, a national forum for exchanges entitled “Scope and impact of legal support for the rights of persons with disabilities”; and in 2009, the preparation of a legal brief which was broadly disseminated. The Government adds that in 2002 a total of 200 tricycles were provided to persons with disabilities and in 2005 a total of 6,336 persons with disabilities were equipped. Between 2004 and 2006, 23 associations and NGOs working in the field of disability and four special educational institutions benefited from financial support. The Government also refers to Decision No. 0192 of 31 July 2008 of the Ministry of Health establishing, organizing and determining the functions of a national implementing commission for the National Community-based Rehabilitation Programme and the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities. The Committee hopes to be able to examine in the Government’s next report new information on the progress achieved with a view to ensuring that a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities has been established (Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention). The Committee invites the Government to include information on the impact that the measures adopted have had on the integration into the labour market of workers with disabilities including persons with mental disabilities. Please also provide relevant documents containing statistics, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

Article 4 of the Convention. Equality of opportunity and treatment. The Government refers in its report to section 18(1) of the General Conditions of Service of the Public Service, which guarantees equality of opportunity and treatment for persons with disabilities while promoting the adoption of special affirmative measures for them. The Committee notes that, in the context of collaboration between the Ministry of the Public Service and the Malian Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities, between 1997 and 2009, 241 young disabled graduates, including 86 women and 155 men, were integrated into the public service. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the practical measures adopted or envisaged to ensure equality of opportunity between disabled workers and other workers in general, and between men and women workers with disabilities.

Article 5. Consultation of the social partners. The Government indicates that representative organizations of persons with disabilities are regularly consulted through meetings, correspondence or working sessions. The Malian Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities participated in the work of the National Workshop on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities in November 2007 and March 2009. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the effect given to the recommendations adopted by workshops in which representative organizations of persons with disabilities are involved. It also invites the Government to indicate the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted on matters relating to the implementation of the Convention.

Article 7. Services accessible to persons with disabilities. The Government refers in its report to the National Institute for the Training of Social Workers (INFTS) and the National Health Training Institute (INFS) among the institutions which take disability into account in their work programmes. The Committee requests the Government to describe the programmes undertaken by the institutes referred to above, as well as other services intended to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment.

Article 8. Accessible services in rural areas and remote communities. The Government indicates that a national community-based programme has been developed for the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities in rural areas. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the implementation of this programme and its impact in ensuring the establishment of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for persons with disabilities residing in rural areas and remote communities.

Article 9. Suitably qualified staff. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure the availability of suitably qualified vocational rehabilitation staff, as provided for in Article 9 of the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

1. The Committee takes note of the Government’s report and of the study of August 2000 by the Malian Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities on the preliminary draft of the Bill and Decree respecting the protection of persons with disabilities. It notes in particular that the draft Social Protection Code appears to have been abandoned in 2000 to make way for a Framework Bill on the protection of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that the application of several provisions of the Convention is subject to the adoption of this Bill (Articles 1, 2, 3 and 7 of the Convention). It therefore hopes that the Bill will be adopted in the near future and that it will take into account the points raised below. The Government is requested to provide a copy of the Framework Act and its implementing decrees once they have been adopted.

2. Article 2 of the Convention. The Government indicates in its report that the national policy promotes the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities so as to help them find stable and lasting employment. The Committee notes with interest that, between 2002 and 2003, 67 young persons with disabilities were integrated into the public service and that 50 became entrepreneurs. A savings and credit fund (handi-caisse) has also been established for young persons with disabilities. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the implementation and periodical review of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities.

3. Article 3. The Committee notes that the Framework Bill on the protection of persons with disabilities provides for various measures to promote the employment opportunities of persons with disabilities on the labour market and it asks the Government to indicate the measures adopted to give effect to these provisions of the Bill.

4. Article 4. The Government indicates in its report that effective equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities and other workers is guaranteed by the Labour Code, the general conditions of service of public servants and the ratification of Conventions Nos. 100 and 111. The Committee refers to the comments that it is making on the application of Conventions Nos. 100 and 111 and asks the Government to provide additional information on the measures adopted to ensure effective equality of opportunity and treatment both between workers with disabilities and workers in general, and between men and women workers with disabilities.

5. Article 5. The Committee notes with interest the role of the Malian Federation of Associations of Persons with Disabilities in the implementation of the national policy. It asks the Government to continue providing information on this matter and on the consultations held with the representative organizations of employers and workers during the period covered by the next report.

6. Article 7. The Committee notes that the Framework Bill on the protection of workers with disabilities provides for measures in the fields of "vocational training, placement and the integration of persons with disabilities" and it asks the Government to indicate the measures adopted under these provisions of the Bill. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the other related services established to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment.

7. Article 8. The Committee refers to its previous direct request and asks the Government to indicate the measures adopted to promote the establishment and development of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities.

8. Article 9. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that suitably qualified staff in the fields of vocational rehabilitation, vocational guidance and vocational training, placement and employment are available to persons with disabilities.

9. Part V of the report form. The Committee asks the Government to provide up-to-date information in its next report on the application of the Convention in practice, including the results of the programmes implemented in the context of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, statistics, extracts from reports and inquiries.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its 2000 direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s first report which covers the period to September 1999. It hopes that the draft Code of Social Protection will be adopted in the near future and that it will take into account the following points. Please supply a copy of the Code once it is adopted.

Article 1(1) of the Convention. The Government states that section 100 does not include mental impairment in the definition of disability, as required under Article 1. Please provide information on what provisions exist to ensure that persons with mental disabilities are included within the policies and programmes to aid persons with disabilities.

Article 2. Please supply particulars of the national programme and the national policy pertaining to persons with disabilities as well as information on how it is kept under periodic review.

Article 4. The Government states in its report that it is still working on the provisions in the draft Code pertaining to equality of treatment as between persons with disabilities and workers generally, and between disabled men and women. Please provide further information on the measures taken to give effect to this provision.

Article 5. The Government states that organizations of people with disabilities are consulted. Please provide information on the manner in which representatives of people with disabilities are consulted. The Government does not mention consultations with employers’ and workers’ representatives. Please provide further information on what measures exist or are envisaged to ensure consultations with organizations of workers and employers.

Article 7. The Committee requests further information on progress made in extending rehabilitation and re-adaptation services to all people with disabilities.

Article 8. The Government states that centres for re-adaptation for the physically disabled are located in Bamako, Ségou and Gao. Please provide further information on measures taken to provide services to rural areas, such as mobile rehabilitation units.

Article 9. Please provide information on what measures exist to ensure the training and availability of rehabilitation counsellors and other suitably qualified staff responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of disabled persons.

Part V of the report form. Please provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, particularly concerning the outcome of programmes designed to promote employment and integration into the open labour market. Any statistics or extracts of evaluations or reports would be appreciated.

The Committee invites the Government to seek assistance from the Office, if needed.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its direct request of 2000, which read as follows.

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s first report which covers the period to September 1999. It hopes that the draft Code of Social Protection will be adopted in the near future and that it will take into account the following points. Please supply a copy of the Code once it is adopted.

  Article 1(1) of the Convention. The Government states that section 100 does not include mental impairment in the definition of disability, as required under Article 1. Please provide information on what provisions exist to ensure that persons with mental disabilities are included within the policies and programmes to aid persons with disabilities.

  Article 2. Please supply particulars of the national programme and the national policy pertaining to persons with disabilities as well as information on how it is kept under periodic review.

  Article 4. The Government states in its report that it is still working on the provisions in the draft Code pertaining to equality of treatment as between persons with disabilities and workers generally, and between disabled men and women. Please provide further information on the measures taken to give effect to this provision.

  Article 5. The Government states that organizations of people with disabilities are consulted. Please provide information on the manner in which representatives of people with disabilities are consulted. The Government does not mention consultations with employers’ and workers’ representatives. Please provide further information on what measures exist or are envisaged to ensure consultations with organizations of workers and employers.

  Article 7. The Committee requests further information on progress made in extending rehabilitation and re-adaptation services to all people with disabilities.

  Article 8. The Government states that centres for re-adaptation for the physically disabled are located in Bamako, Ségou and Gao. Please provide further information on measures taken to provide services to rural areas, such as mobile rehabilitation units.

  Article 9. Please provide information on what measures exist to ensure the training and availability of rehabilitation counsellors and other suitably qualified staff responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of disabled persons.

  Part V of the report form. Please provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, particularly concerning the outcome of programmes designed to promote employment and integration into the open labour market. Any statistics or extracts of evaluations or reports would be appreciated.

The Committee invites the Government to seek assistance from the Office, if needed.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s first report which covers the period to September 1999. It hopes that the draft Code of Social Protection will be adopted in the near future and that it will take into account the following points. Please supply a copy of the Code once it is adopted.

  Article 1(1) of the Convention. The Government states that section 100 does not include mental impairment in the definition of disability, as required under Article 1. Please provide information on what provisions exist to ensure that persons with mental disabilities are included within the policies and programmes to aid persons with disabilities.

  Article 2. Please supply particulars of the national programme and the national policy pertaining to persons with disabilities as well as information on how it is kept under periodic review.

  Article 4.  The Government states in its report that it is still working on the provisions in the draft Code pertaining to equality of treatment as between persons with disabilities and workers generally, and between disabled men and women. Please provide further information on the measures taken to give effect to this provision.

  Article 5. The Government states that organizations of people with disabilities are consulted. Please provide information on the manner in which representatives of people with disabilities are consulted. The Government does not mention consultations with employers’ and workers’ representatives. Please provide further information on what measures exist or are envisaged to ensure consultations with organizations of workers and employers.

  Article 7. The Committee requests further information on progress made in extending rehabilitation and re-adaptation services to all people with disabilities.

  Article 8. The Government states that centres for re-adaptation for the physically disabled are located in Bamako, Ségou and Gao. Please provide further information on measures taken to provide services to rural areas, such as mobile rehabilitation units.

  Article 9. Please provide information on what measures exist to ensure the training and availability of rehabilitation counsellors and other suitably qualified staff responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of disabled persons.

  Part V of the report form. Please provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, particularly concerning the outcome of programmes designed to promote employment and integration into the open labour market. Any statistics or extracts of evaluations or reports would be appreciated.

The Committee invites the Government to seek assistance from the Office, if needed.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s first report which covers the period to September 1999. It hopes that the draft Code of Social Protection will be adopted in the near future and that it will take into account the following points. Please supply a copy of the Code once it is adopted.

Article 1(1) of the Convention.  The Government states that section 100 does not include mental impairment in the definition of disability, as required under Article 1. Please provide information on what provisions exist to ensure that persons with mental disabilities are included within the policies and programmes to aid persons with disabilities.

Article 2.  Please supply particulars of the national programme and the national policy pertaining to persons with disabilities as well as information on how it is kept under periodic review.

Article 4.  The Government states in its report that it is still working on the provisions in the draft Code pertaining to equality of treatment as between persons with disabilities and workers generally, and between disabled men and women. Please provide further information on the measures taken to give effect to this provision.

Article 5.  The Government states that organizations of people with disabilities are consulted. Please provide information on the manner in which representatives of people with disabilities are consulted. The Government does not mention consultations with employers’ and workers’ representatives. Please provide further information on what measures exist or are envisaged to ensure consultations with organizations of workers and employers.

Article 7.  The Committee requests further information on progress made in extending rehabilitation and re-adaptation services to all people with disabilities.

Article 8.  The Government states that centres for re-adaptation for the physically disabled are located in Bamako, Ségou and Gao. Please provide further information on measures taken to provide services to rural areas, such as mobile rehabilitation units.

Article 9.  Please provide information on what measures exist to ensure the training and availability of rehabilitation counsellors and other suitably qualified staff responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of disabled persons.

Part V of the report form.  Please provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, particularly concerning the outcome of programmes designed to promote employment and integration into the open labour market. Any statistics or extracts of evaluations or reports would be appreciated.

The Committee invites the Government to seek assistance from the Office, if needed.