Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Zimbabwe (Ratification: 1998)

Article 2 of the Convention. National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2012 in reply to the 2010 observation. The Committee notes with interest that a consultative process led to the formulation of a draft policy on persons with disabilities, which is under consideration by stakeholders. Through the policy, the Government intends to mainstream and integrate issues pertaining to disability to ensure that vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities is given due attention. The draft policy provides for strategic measures for creating an enabling environment for the promotion, advancement and social integration of persons with disabilities. Other measures envisaged include the provision of tools and financing for income-generating projects of persons with disabilities. The Government also indicates that the draft policy proposes joint planning, effective and efficient intersectoral and interministerial collaboration in order to, inter alia, collect data on persons with disabilities. It further indicates that it has yet to undertake the survey which had been proposed for 2010 on persons with disabilities. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information on the adoption of the national policy on persons with disabilities and details of the implementation of the vocational rehabilitation and employment component of this policy. The Committee would also welcome receiving statistics and relevant data, as much as possible, disaggregated by age, sex and nature of the disability, as well as extracts of reports, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

Article 3. Promotion of employment opportunities in the open labour market. The Government indicates that the draft national policy on persons with disabilities provides for a quota system to enable people to access rehabilitative education and training for better employment prospects. The Government indicates that 41 students are enrolled in courses within the Danhiko Rehabilitation Centre on electronics, information technology, wood technology and clothing design. The centre has the capacity to enrol up to 80 students per year at various levels. The Committee invites the Government to include information on the implementation of the quota system and its impact on improving employment opportunities of persons with disabilities in the open labour market.

Article 4. Equal opportunity and treatment. In reply to the Committee’s comments, the Government indicates that there are no reported court cases or other relevant decisions on discrimination on the basis of disability. The Committee invites the Government to indicate any special positive measures aimed at effective equality of opportunity and treatment between persons with disabilities, whether women or men, and other workers.

Article 7. Vocational rehabilitation and employment services. The Government indicates that existing employment services, including career guidance and counselling, are adapted to suit the needs of persons with disabilities. Information on career prospects is shared with students with disabilities on the choices they can make in their career paths. The Committee observes that emphasis is placed on the understanding that disability is not inability. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of measures taken to allow persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment.

Article 8. Access to services in rural areas and remote communities. The Government indicates that the National Employment Service Department provides career guidance and counselling services in rural schools and will continue intensifying resource mobilization efforts to secure adequate resources needed for extensive coverage of rural schools. The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report information on how vocational rehabilitation and employment services are available to persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities.

Article 9. Suitably qualified staff. The Government indicates that there are various training programmes for rehabilitation counsellors, staff members and instructors at the Danhiko Rehabilitation Centre. For example, the centre has trained nurses and physiotherapists. All experts at the centre undergo training in sign language and adaptive training methods in theory and practice. The centre also trains students with disabilities in order to meet their personal aspirations and employs some of them upon completion of their studies. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the various training programmes for rehabilitation counsellors and other suitably qualified staff in the other rehabilitation centres.