Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

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

The Committee notes the observations of the Turkish Confederation of Employers’ Associations (TISK), the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-IS) and the Confederation of Turkish Real Trade Unions (HAK-IS) communicated with the Government’s report.

Articles 2, 3 and 5 of the Convention. Implementation of a national policy for the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the statistical data communicated by the Government on the employment situation of persons with disabilities, disaggregated by nature of the disability, and the legislative amendments implemented, such as the modifications to the quota system for the employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee further notes that for undertakings with 50 or more employees there is a mandatory quota of workers with disabilities at the level of 3 per cent of the total number of employees in private sector workplaces and 4 per cent in public sector workplaces. TISK is of the view that there are obstacles when it comes to implementing the statutory provisions aiming to promote the effective participation of persons with disabilities in employment. HAK-IS points out that, despite the legislative and the important steps taken, the number of persons with disabilities in employment is still unsatisfactory. It adds that most of the positions generated by the employment quotas for persons with disabilities are left vacant. In its observations, TÜRK-IS indicates that the labour force participation rate of persons with disabilities is very low, adding that, as of June 2014, 89,980 persons with disabilities were employed in the public and private sectors and another 25,846 persons were waiting to be placed in employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on and an evaluation of the measures adopted for persons with disabilities in terms of increasing their employment opportunities in the open labour market. It also requests the Government to provide examples of how the views and concerns of the social partners and representatives of organizations of and for persons with disabilities are taken into account in the implementation of the policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. Please also continue to provide updated statistics 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.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2017.]