Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Bahrain (Ratification: 1999)

Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. Access to the open labour market and services available for persons with disabilities. The Government indicates in its report that it has started to implement the second phase of the National Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2012–16) and its corresponding Action Plan. The Government refers to section 5 of Act No. 74 of 2006 (as amended by Act No. 59 of 2014) which provides that workers with disabilities or workers caring for a dependent person with a disability are entitled to a two-hour daily break with full pay. The Committee notes that, in 2014, a total of 957 persons with disabilities registered with the Ministry of Social Development were employed, 590 were seeking employment, and 107 had been found unable to work. The Committee also notes the information provided by the Government concerning incentive measures taken to promote the employment of persons with disabilities, such as the State’s payment of a year’s salary to companies and institutions that employ persons with disabilities, the granting of an official bonus, and honouring companies and institutions in an annual event organized by the Ministry of Labour. In 2014, the Service Centre for Persons with Disabilities (“You are not alone”) benefited a total of 93 persons with disabilities (67 were placed in employment and 26 were trained). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures implemented in the context of the National Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2012–16), and its corresponding Action Plan, particularly in respect of the impact of the incentive measures aimed at promoting the employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee further requests information on the application in practice of the two-hour daily break provided for in section 5 of Act No. 74 of 2006 and on any evaluations that may have been carried out to determine the impact of this provision on the employment of persons with disabilities or workers caring for a dependent with a disability. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide specific practical information, such as statistical data, extracts from reports, studies or surveys on matters covered by the Convention.

Article 5. Consultation of the representative organizations of employers and workers. In reply to previous comments, the Committee notes that responsibility over the rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities rests with the social partners, and that the Government endeavours to maintain an ongoing link between all three partners. The Committee requests the Government to provide more particulars on the manner in which it ensures a continuous link between the social partners and representative organizations of and for persons with disabilities on matters governed by the Convention.

Article 9. Suitably qualified staff to provide services for persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that attention has been focused on the training of psychological specialists, and that measures have been taken to support provision of psychological and counselling services to all categories of society, including persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the measures taken 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 persons with disabilities. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the number of persons trained and made available to persons with disabilities.