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

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

Article 2 of the Convention. Implementation of a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Government indicates in its report that the National Plan of Action for the Philippine Decade of Make the Rights Real for Persons with Disabilities 2013–22 has been prepared in accordance with the 3rd Asian and the Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2013–22. The Committee notes with interest that the Republic Act No. 10524, known as the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities”, was adopted in 2013. It notes that the Sub-Committee of the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) on Accessibility on Built Environment and Transportation and the Sub-Committee on Training, Employment and Livelihood have held regular meetings in order to develop policies, programmes and projects for persons with disabilities. The regional committees on disability affairs have also been convened to discuss issues which need policies to be developed. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the implementation of the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities, including details of the activities of the relevant subcommittees. Please also include information on the implementation of the National Plan of Action for the Philippine Decade of Make the Rights Real for Persons with Disabilities 2013–22.

Article 3. Promotion of employment opportunities in the open labour market. The Government indicates that the Department of Social Welfare and Development carries out projects and programmes, including by providing sheltered workshops for persons with disabilities in community-based facilities where vocational training and productive employment are offered, and rehabilitation sheltered workshops which offer vocational rehabilitation and skills training. The Committee notes that the Non-Handicapping Environment Project which aims to improve access of persons with disabilities to education and employment was jointly conducted in 2012 by the NCDA and Japan International Cooperation Agency, with the technical assistance provided by the Asia–Pacific Development Centre on Disability through capacity-building of stakeholders and persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that, in 2012, the NCDA conducted a national campaign entitled “May PWD ID Ako, Kasali Ako” which aimed to ensure that all persons with disabilities are registered and issued Persons with Disabilities identification cards in order to exercise their rights. It also indicates that a campaign on inclusive education was implemented by the NCDA, including the participation in a High Level Officials’ Benchmarking Workshop held in Australia and the development of the Philippine Policy Framework on Inclusive Education in 2012. The Committee notes that discussions were held on bills regarding inclusive education in technical working groups of related senate committees. The Committee requests the Government to continue to submit information on the measures taken to provide appropriate vocational rehabilitation and to promote employment for persons with disabilities in the open labour market, as well as information on the impact of the measures implemented on the employment situation of persons with disabilities.

Article 5. Consultation with the social partners. The Government indicates that various multi-sectoral consultations, including with government agencies, employers and organizations of persons with disabilities, have been conducted for the adoption of the Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities. It also indicates that the NCDA intensified its collaboration with government agencies, non-governmental organizations of and for persons with disabilities and its counterparts overseas so as to address the growing concerns of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that, in this regard, the NCDA has conducted various disability-related events as well as the first Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) Congress in 2012 where 64 PDAO heads and 17 persons with disabilities acting as Focal Persons in Local Government Units participated in the deliberation of the implementation of the PDAO Law. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the manner in which representative employers’ and workers’ 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.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending in September 2009. The Government mentions several projects designed to assist the integration of persons with disabilities into mainstream society through training and employment. It further mentions a consultation seminar on improvements needed for the effective implementation of the KAGABAY programme for occupational workers with disabilities who lost employment by reason of work-related sickness or injury in the maritime sector. The Committee asks the Government to supply in its next report information on the application in practice of the measures taken in the context of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, with specific reference to educational and training opportunities for all sectors. Please also provide relevant documents containing statistics, studies or surveys on the matters covered by the Convention (Articles 3 and 5 of the Convention and Part V of the report form).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee notes with interest the detailed information provided in the Government’s report. It asks the Government to continue providing practical information, particularly on the establishment of the National Comprehensive Occupational Rehabilitation Program and on the activities of the Inter-agency Committee on Employment Promotion, Protection and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, in accordance with Part V of the report form.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government's report in response to its previous comments. In particular, it notes that the Employment Compensation Commission is currently studying the comprehensive rehabilitation programme and that its report is due in October 1999. The Committee would appreciate receiving a copy of the report or a summary of the findings, as requested in Part V of the report form.

The Committee also notes with interest the Government's statement that it has established an Inter-Agency Committee on Employment Promotion, Protection and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities to coordinate and monitor implementation of the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons and other relevant legislation; to develop further legislation and programmes to promote employment of persons with disabilities; and to promote research and advocacy. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information on the activities of the Inter-Agency Committee.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government in its first and second reports on the application of the Convention. It would be grateful if the Government would supply, in its next report, additional information on the following points:

Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee notes the provisions of sections 31 and 41 of Act No. 7277 of 21 July 1991 concerning the participation of the representative organizations of and for disabled persons in the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons. It also notes the indications contained in the second report concerning a dialogue between the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) and employers' and workers' organizations, as well as the conclusion on 19 July 1995 of a Social Pact on Equalization of Employment Opportunities for Disabled Persons. It would be grateful if the Government would supply, with its next report, a copy of the above-mentioned Pact. Please describe in more detail the manner in which representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted on the implementation of the said policy, including the measures to be taken to promote cooperation and coordination between the public and private bodies engaged in vocational rehabilitation activities, in accordance with this Article.

Point V of the report form. Please continue to provide a general appreciation of the manner in which the Convention is applied in your country, including for example statistics, extracts from reports, studies and inquiries, concerning the matters covered by the Convention (for example, with respect to particular areas or branches of activity or particular categories of disabled workers).