Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Malta (Ratification: 1988)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments and, in particular, statistics supplied under point V of the report form.

Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's report that the National Commission for the Handicapped (KNH) has a wider role as compared to the Disabled Resettlement Advisory Committee, in that it coordinates the activities of all public bodies and voluntary organizations relating to the rehabilitation of disabled persons and makes recommendations to the Government. The Committee notes from the paper "A caring society in a changing world" supplied with the Government's first report that the KNH has been established with representation of the relevant government departments, the Federation of Associations for the Handicapped and other concerned individuals. Please state whether employers' and workers' organizations are also represented on the KNH and, if not, please describe the manner in which these organizations are consulted on the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons, in accordance with this Article.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information on the activities of the Employment and Training Corporation. The Government indicates that so far the Corporation has not run any special training courses or placement schemes for disabled persons, but such courses are now under preparation, in consultation with the Disablement Resettlement Officer and with the KNH, and will be started in the near future. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would describe any new developments in this field, as well as other practical measures taken for the development of various services for disabled persons, including vocational guidance services, in accordance with this Article. It also reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on the activities of the special employment service for disabled persons run by the Department of Health, to which reference was made in the Government's first report.

Article 9. With reference to its earlier comments, the Committee hopes that the Government will not fail to indicate, in its next report, measures taken to ensure the availability of suitably qualified vocational rehabilitation staff, as required under this Article.