Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

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

The Committee notes the observations made by the Christian Confederation of Malagasy Trade Unions (SEKRIMA), received on 4 September 2017. SEKRIMA calls on the Government to ensure that Madagascan legislation addresses in detail cases of persons with disabilities, in view of the lack of recognition of their rights and the Convention. It adds that the policy for the construction of new public buildings should take into account accessibility for persons with disabilities. SEKRIMA emphasizes that measures to encourage enterprises to hire persons with disabilities should be explicit and feasible. It adds that persons with disabilities face difficulties relating to work and accessibility on a daily basis, as most administrative establishments remain inaccessible to them, despite the construction of new buildings. In this context, action should be taken to improve their situation. SEKRIMA points out that, despite the existence of platforms for associations of persons with disabilities in Madagascar, representative organizations for these persons have not yet been established. It hopes that the implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2015–19 will allow for the introduction of vocational rehabilitation and employment services in rural areas and isolated communities. SEKRIMA indicates that it is necessary to implement a national training programme for persons responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of persons with disabilities. It suggests that this programme be developed in cooperation with representative employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee requests the Government to make observations in this regard.

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments from 2015.

Article 3 of the Convention. Employment promotion for persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous comments. The Government indicates that the Ministry of Employment, Technical Education and Vocational Training is planning the implementation of a new plan of action entitled “National Plan of Action for Employment and Training” to strengthen the results achieved in the context of the National Employment Support Programme, and to make up for its shortcomings. The Government adds that statistics, reports, studies and inquiries will be prepared as the plan is put into effect. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to report the measures implemented with a view to promoting the employment of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, including statistics, extracts from reports, studies and surveys on the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

Article 4. Effective equality of opportunity and treatment for persons with disabilities. In its previous report, the Government reported a certain hesitation among persons with disabilities in respect of those without disabilities, as they considered themselves to be in a position of inferiority. It also indicated that this situation was fortunately not generalized and that many persons with disabilities asserted their rights. The Committee notes the information on the legislative provisions prohibiting discrimination supplied by the Government in reply to its 2010 request. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the special positive measures taken with the aim of ensuring effective equality of opportunity between workers with disabilities and other workers in general, and between men and women workers with disabilities.

Article 5. Consultation of representative organizations. The Government reiterates that the national structures necessary for the implementation of the National Plan of Action for Employment and Training are still at the design stage and that information on them will be provided to the Office subsequently. The Committee recalls that Article 5 of the Convention requires consultations with representative organizations of employers, workers and persons with disabilities. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to provide detailed information on the consultations held in relation to the matters covered by the Convention.

Article 8. Development of services in rural areas and remote communities. The Committee previously noted that regional committees to monitor employment promotion and poverty reduction (CRSPERP) had been established in ten of the 22 regions of the country and that their functions and structures were the same as those at the national level. Two regional vocational training centres for persons with disabilities had been established in the north-east and south of the country. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to describe the vocational rehabilitation and employment services made available for persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities.

Article 9. Suitably qualified staff. The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the measures taken in training centres to ensure the availability to those concerned of suitably qualified staff responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of persons with disabilities.