Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - North Macedonia (Ratification: 1991)

The Committee notes 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.

Repetition

Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention. Implementation of a national policy for the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report in reply to its 2011 direct request. It notes that 1,284 unemployed persons with different types of disability were registered by the Employment Service Agency (ESA) in May 2014, out of which 450 persons were women and 282 persons were under the age of 30. It also notes that 2,373 unemployed persons with disabilities registered by the ESA have been involved in active measures within the Operational Plan implemented by the ESA in 2012–13. The Committee also notes with interest that the National Strategy on Equal Rights of the Persons with Disabilities 2010–18 includes the goal to provide equal opportunity for work and employment of persons with disabilities by developing and applying system resolutions based on their needs and abilities, implemented by measures which include improving the knowledge of people involved in the process of designing and implementing the employment policy for persons with disabilities, strengthening vocational qualification through training and education, enhancing the roles and responsibilities of the social partners for employment of persons with disabilities and developing the employment information system. Moreover, the National Strategy 2010–18 incorporates gender equality into the policies for persons with disabilities. The Government further indicates that Makedonski Shumi, a public enterprise, announced the recruitment of 300 persons with disabilities in 2013, a measure which has been expected to promote the employment of persons with disabilities in the open labour market. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the implementation of a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, including the results of the National Strategy on Equal Rights of the Persons with Disabilities 2010–18. Please also indicate the manner in which persons with disabilities who are not registered by the ESA are afforded the protection provided by the Convention.

Article 5. Consultation of the representative organizations. The Committee notes that in 2013 a Memorandum of Cooperation on establishing a fund to support persons with disabilities was signed between the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Chamber of Commerce of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in accordance with the programme activities for cooperation with the business community to promote vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities in the open labour market and their integration into society. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which representative employers’ and worker’s organizations as well as representative organizations of and for persons with disabilities are consulted on the implementation of the policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, including the impact of the Memorandum of Cooperation established to support persons with disabilities.

Article 7. Services accessible to persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that services provided by the ESA for persons with disabilities include psychological support, preparation of a workplan, workplace training, the provision of equipment and means for workplace adaptation, and the assessment and specialization of professional skills. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the services available to persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment.

Article 8. Vocational rehabilitation and employment services in rural areas and remote communities. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the vocational rehabilitation and employment services available to persons with disabilities particularly in rural areas and remote communities.

Article 9. Training of staff responsible for persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the measures taken to ensure that the skills of vocational rehabilitation staff are adequate for the purposes of the Convention.