Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Poland (Ratification: 2004)

Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Implementation of a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the detailed information forwarded by the Government in its report received in September 2009, in reply to the 2007 direct request, listing numerous measures adopted in the context of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that, since the introduction in 2004 of remuneration subsidies, there has been a significant increase in the number of persons with disabilities employed in the open labour market, which rose from 28,000 to 40,000 in January 2009. The number of persons with disabilities in companies receiving state support for their employment also rose from 173,000 to 180,000. Finally, the Government indicates that the impact of the measures adopted following the passing of the Act amending the Act on social and vocational rehabilitation and employment is already evident from the data registered between December 2008 and February 2009, when the employment of persons with disabilities increased by 20,888 individuals. The Committee invites the Government to continue supplying in its next report information on the application in practice of the measures taken in the context of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, with specific reference to educational and training opportunities. Please also provide any other document containing statistics, studies or surveys on the matters covered by the Convention.

Article 4. Effective equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women workers with disabilities and other workers. The Committee notes the comments transmitted by the Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarnośc” in July 2009, expressing concern over the practice followed by employment offices, dividing job offers into two different groups depending on whether they are addressed to all jobseekers or, more specifically, to persons with disabilities. In addition, Solidarnośc indicates that, in several employment offices, vacancies addressed to persons with disabilities are displayed in a different space than job offers generally addressed, which may limit in practice their access to offers and their chances to find a job. The Committee notes the measures introduced by the Government in 2008, through amendments to the 2004 Act on employment promotion and labour market institutions, which also targeted persons with disabilities, including special programmes for the selection and activation of people with special needs in job searching. It also refers to cross-regional and nationwide projects implemented under the Human Capital Operational Programme (HC OP) and co-financed by the European Social Fund, to facilitate access to the labour market of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that a number of targeted measures have been implemented in 2007 and 2008 through funds allocated under the State Fund Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities (PFRON), in the area of job counselling and advisory services (including the use of a vocational coach), and training with a view to increasing employment opportunities for this category of workers. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the impact of special positive measures aimed at effective equality of opportunity and treatment for men and women workers with disabilities and other workers.