Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Norway (Ratification: 1984)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention. National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken in cooperation with the social partners to ensure that vocational rehabilitation measures are made available to all categories of persons with disabilities, as well as to describe the impact of the measures taken to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities on the open labour market. In this context, the Government refers to information contained in its report on the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), according to which, in 2018, an average of over 70,100 persons per month participated in active labour market measures, of which 53,750 were persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that scientific evaluations of the different measures over the years concluded that they have a positive impact on employment. It adds that the labour market situation of persons receiving services or benefits from the Labour and Welfare Administration is monitored six months after services or benefits cease. The Committee notes that, according to the figures for 2018, six months after cessation of services or benefits, 66 per cent of unemployed persons had secured employment, compared to 42 per cent of persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that these figures have remained relatively stable for many years. The Committee notes that, in 2018, the overall employment rate of persons with disabilities between the ages of 15 and 66 was 43.9 per cent, compared to 74 per cent for the general population. The Committee notes that, in its initial report to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD/C/NOR/1, 7 December 2015, paragraphs 251–254 and 259–260), the Government refers to a number of measures taken to promote employment for persons with disabilities, including: the Jobs Strategy for Persons with Disabilities, adopted in 2012, which focuses on persons with disabilities under the age of 30; the Follow-up Plan for Work and Mental Health 2013-2016, which aims to assist persons with mental health disorders to complete an education and participate in working life; and the Inclusive Working Life Agreement (IW) 2014–2018, a tripartite agreement aimed, inter alia, at increasing the employment of persons with disabilities. With respect to vocational rehabilitation, the Committee notes the absence of information in the Government's report with regard to measures taken to ensure that vocational rehabilitation measures are made available to all persons with disabilities. The Committee requests that the Government provide detailed updated information including statistical data disaggregated by sex and age, regarding the nature and impact of active labour market measures taken to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities on the open labour market, including information with regard to the status and impact of the Job Strategy for Persons with Disabilities, the Follow-up Plan for Work and Mental Health and the Inclusive Working Life Agreement. In addition, the Committee reiterates its request that the Government provide information concerning the measures taken in consultation with the social partners and the representative organizations of and for persons with disabilities to ensure that vocational rehabilitation measures are made available to all categories of persons with disabilities.

COVID-19 pandemic. In light of the profound socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government is invited to provide updated information on the impact of the crisis on the application of the Convention in relation to the employment of persons with disabilities.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention. National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Government indicates in its report that a new inclusive working life (IW) agreement 2014–18 was signed in March 2014 with the social partners. The Committee notes that the Jobs Strategy for People with Disabilities was strengthened with further measures and its main target group is persons with disabilities under the age of 30. The Government indicates that work on the Jobs Strategy has been widely influenced by discussions with the National Disability Council of Norway and discussions between ministries. Responsibility for the implementation of the Jobs Strategy lies jointly with the social partners, organizations representing persons with disabilities, employers, the Labour and Welfare Service and other public service providers and with the jobseekers themselves. The Committee notes that the employment rate for persons with disabilities was 42.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2013, which is lower than in previous years (45.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2008). The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken in cooperation with the social partners in order to ensure that vocational rehabilitation measures are made available to all categories of persons with disabilities. Please also describe the impact of the measures taken to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the open labour market.

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 information provided by the Government in the report for the period ending in May 2009. The Government indicates that a new inclusive working life (IW) agreement from 2006 to 2009 was put in place with the social partners aiming at reducing the number of persons going from employment to passive benefits, increasing the percentage of persons on long‑term sick leave who started attending vocational rehabilitation during the sick leave period and increasing the percentage of persons with reduced functional ability who go from national insurance benefits to work. The Norwegian LO expresses its hope that the political willingness to continue tripartite cooperation will continue after 2009, when the IW agreement expires. It also states that there is a need for an intensified focus on measures to improve the situation for employment of people with disabilities in a new inclusive working life agreement. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information on the measures taken in cooperation with the social partners in order to ensure that appropriate vocational rehabilitation measures are made available to all categories of persons with disabilities and to promote employment opportunities for them in the open labour market (Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention and Part V of the report form).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its 2004 direct request, which read as follows:

The Government indicated the lack of available statistics shedding light on supervisory practice in relation to the employment of persons with disabilities, as the statistics on the relevant areas often also include persons without disabilities. The figures would not therefore provide a representative picture of the scope of supervision in the fields covered by the Convention. The Committee asked the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken in the context of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities (Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention) and to provide any relevant information on the application of the Convention in practice, in accordance with Part V of the report form.

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

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report received in October 2004. The Committee refers to the comments that it made in 2003 on the application of Convention No. 122 in relation to the increase in the number of persons with disabilities and the amendment of certain provisions of the Working Environment Act (No. 4), 1977, in accordance with an agreement concluded in October 2001 between the Government and the social partners to create a more inclusive workplace. The Committee notes in this respect Act No. 27 of 30 April 2003 amending sections 13, 14, 16 and 64 of the above Act and the addition of two new chapters on equal treatment in employment, introduced by Act No. 15 of 26 March 2004. The Government reports the lack of available statistics shedding light on supervisory practice in relation to the employment of persons with disabilities, as the statistics on the relevant areas often also include persons without disabilities. The figures would not therefore provide a representative picture of the scope of supervision in the fields covered by the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken in the context of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities (Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention) and to provide any relevant information on the application of the Convention in practice, in accordance with Part V of the report form.