Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

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

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments.

Article 1, paragraph 4, of the Convention. In its previous comments the Committee noted that section 1 of Act No. 39 of 1975 on the rehabilitation of the disabled, amended by Act No. 49 of 1982, provides that this law applies to foreigners resident in the country subject to reciprocity. The Government states in its report that there is no discrepancy between national legislation and this Article of the Convention and repeats that no foreigner is excluded from access to the services of rehabilitation establishments, provided that he bears the costs. The Committee wishes to recall in this connection that the Convention is not based on the concept of reciprocity but applies to all categories of disabled persons and aims to ensure equality of treatment for all to whom it is applicable. The Committee again expresses the hope that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to reconsider the question and bring the national legislation into full conformity with the Convention on this point. It requests the Government to supply information in its next report on all progress made in this direction.

Article 5. The Committee notes with interest the information supplied by the Government concerning the tripartite consultations held during the 20th conference of the Arab Labour Organization with a view to the adoption of the Arab Convention on the rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons. The Government states that several meetings have been held with employers' and workers' representatives and with the representatives of organizations for the disabled in order to obtain effective participation in formulating the national policy on occupational rehabilitation of disabled persons. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify whether representative organizations of and for disabled persons are also consulted on "the implementation of the said policy", as required by this Article of the Convention.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on the activities of the Egyptian Occupational Assessment Centre in the area of occupational guidance and training for disabled persons. It would be grateful if the Government would also indicate in its next report the extent to which existing services for workers generally are used, with necessary adaptations, in the area of occupational guidance and training, placement and employment so that disabled persons can secure, retain and advance in employment.

Article 9. The Committee notes the general information supplied by the Government concerning the organization of training and rehabilitation sessions and information meetings for workers in the various governorates. It would be grateful if the Government would describe in more detail the measures taken to ensure the training and availability of rehabilitation counsellors and other suitably qualified vocational rehabilitation staff responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of disabled persons.