Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Malawi (Ratification: 1986)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments initially made in 2014.

Repetition

Article 2 of the Convention. National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee refers to its previous comments in which it noted that the Kamuzu Vocational Rehabilitation and Training Centre offers training to persons with disabilities in various areas, including tailoring, carpentry and joinery. It also notes the adoption of a new National Employment and Labour Policy (NELP) in 2017, developed by the Ministry of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development, which includes as a priority area the promotion of gender equality and decent and productive employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, among other disadvantaged groups. The 2017 NELP sets out a range of measures, including affirmative action measures, aimed at increasing the enrolment of persons with disabilities in technical education at all levels, promoting greater access to employment and self-employment opportunities, improving labour market information services, and promoting disability-friendly infrastructure and facilities in the workplace. According to the 2008 Population Census, persons with disabilities constitute four per cent of the total population of the country. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated detailed information on the impact of the measures adopted within the framework of the 2017 National Employment and Labour Policy on vocational rehabilitation and guidance services and on the employment of persons with disabilities, particularly on the open labour market. It also requests the Government to provide statistics disaggregated by age, sex and nature of the disability, as well as extracts from reports, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention. In addition, given the focus in the National Employment and Labour Policy on gender equality in addition to disability, the Committee would welcome receiving information on any measures taken or envisaged to promote employment and income generation opportunities for women with disabilities.

Article 5. Consultation with the social partners and organizations of and for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that the 2017 NELP was adopted through a process of consultations with stakeholders in the public and private sectors as well as with development partners. Furthermore, it notes that one of the strategies set out in the NELP includes the enhancement of the capacity of associations and organizations for persons with disabilities to ensure greater access for persons with disabilities to employment and self-employment opportunities. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on the consultations held with the social partners and organizations of and for persons with disabilities engaged in activities relating to vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities.