Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Serbia (Ratification: 2000)

1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report concerning the application of the Convention for the period ending July 2005. It notes that the Government’s report contains detailed information on the legislative measures to be or already adopted and the measures implemented to promote the social and labour integration of persons with disabilities. In particular, the National Employment Strategy adopted by the Government for the period 2005-10 includes a chapter dealing with the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee further understands that the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) for Serbia of February 2004 focuses on the implementation of existing programmes, as well as defining new ones, and on measures and activities directly targeting persons with disabilities in order to enable them to acquire economic independence through active participation in the world of work.

2. Review of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that the drafting of the new Law on Employment of Persons with Disabilities is under way. It hopes that this new legislation will also include a definition of persons with disabilities in conformity with the Convention and the ILO’s practice. It also requests the Government to provide information on the outcome of the ongoing reviews of the established policy on persons with disabilities (Article 2 of the Convention).

3. Effective equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women workers with disabilities and other workers. Please provide further practical information on the impact of the measures so far adopted by the National Employment Service to ensure effective equality of opportunity and treatment both between men and women among the disabled, and between workers with disabilities and other workers (Article 4). In particular, the Committee would like clarification as to why and under what circumstances persons with disabilities are entitled to lower wages that they had prior to their disability, as indicated by the Government’s report for Article 4.

4. Consultation of the representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes from the Government’s report the establishment of the Council for Disabled Persons Issues, which is composed of representatives of the Government and the representative organizations of persons with disabilities. It further notes the Government’s indication to the effect that there is well-established cooperation between enterprises and the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of the Disabled within the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy for the employment and vocational training of persons with disabilities. The Committee would appreciate receiving in the Government’s next report further information on the activities of the Council and any information on whether representative employers’ and workers’ organizations are consulted on the matters covered by the Convention (Article 5).

5. Vocational rehabilitation and employment services in rural areas. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that no special services for the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities have been established in the rural areas so far. It also notes that, according to the Government’s report, persons with disabilities in rural areas can reach these services in the employment centres located in the city nearby. The Committee would be grateful if the Government could provide information on whether persons with disabilities in rural areas enjoy sufficient access to vocational rehabilitation and employment measures (Article 8).

6. Training of staff responsible for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s indication to the effect that rehabilitation staff are composed of specialists such as medical practitioners, psychologists, social workers and career counsellors. It would appreciate receiving further information in the Government’s next report on how the training of rehabilitation staff is ensured (Article 9).

7. The Committee requests the Government for specific practical information, such as statistics, reports, studies and inquiries, on the measures taken to implement and achieve the objectives of the National Employment Strategy and the PRSP in the field covered by the Convention and to continue providing information on the practical impact of the measures adopted to implement the national policy on the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities within the meaning of the Convention (Part V of the report form).