Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Cyprus (Ratification: 1987)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Articles 1–5 of the Convention. Implementation of vocational rehabilitation and employment policies for persons with disabilities. The Government refers in its report to five vocational rehabilitation schemes which continued to be implemented during 2020 and 2021. Three of the five schemes are targeted directly at persons with disabilities: the Supported Employment Scheme; the Small Units for Entrepreneurship Scheme; and the Vocational Training Scheme. The additional two schemes target persons with disabilities indirectly through their organizations: the Scheme for the subsidization of Organizations for Vocational Training Programs for Person with disabilities and the Scheme for the subsidization of Organizations for Vocational Training Programs for Disability Professionals. The Government adds that, in implementing all five schemes, the Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities is always in contact and in consultation with the Cyprus Confederation of Organizations of the Disabled (CCOD). The Committee notes with interest that, during the reporting period: (i) the Supported Employment Scheme financed 370 persons with disabilities to enable them to receive coaching support while employed in the open labour market; (ii) the Small Units for Entrepreneurship Scheme granted subsidies to 48 persons with disabilities to enable them to start their own small enterprises; and (iii) the Vocational Training Scheme provided services to assist 41 persons with disabilities to improve their vocational skills. The Government further indicates that, pursuant to the quota system established under Law No. 146(I)/2009 for the hiring of persons with disabilities in the public sector, 119 persons with disabilities were hired between 2014 and 2019, an increase from 83 persons with disabilities hired pursuant to the quota system between 2009 and 2013. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures adopted to promote vocational rehabilitation and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, including information on the nature, scope and impact of the vocational rehabilitation schemes being implemented by the Department of Social Inclusion. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate whether it provides technical assistance, including entrepreneurship and financial management training, to small enterprises created by persons with disabilities. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on the implementation of Law No. 146(I)/2009, as well as any other practical information on matters relating to the manner in which the Convention is applied.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Articles 1–5 of the Convention. Implementation of vocational rehabilitation and employment policies for persons with disabilities. The Government refers in its report to three vocational rehabilitation schemes which continued to be implemented during 2013 and 2014, namely the Supported Employment Scheme, the Small Units for Entrepreneurship Scheme, and the Vocational Training Scheme. The Government also indicates that, pursuant to the quota system established under Law No. 146(I)/2009 for the hiring of persons with disabilities in the public sector, 83 persons with disabilities were hired between 2009 and 2013. The Department of Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance is collecting data on the implementation of Law No. 146(I)/2009 for the year 2014. Moreover, as from 2014, the Department of Social Inclusion has been implementing a new system for the assessment of disability and functioning based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) of the World Health Organization. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures adopted to promote vocational rehabilitation and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, including on the impact of the vocational rehabilitation schemes being implemented by the Department of Social Inclusion. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information, including up-to-date statistical information that may be available on the employment of persons with disabilities in the private sector (including salaried and self-employed workers). In addition, please provide particulars on the manner in which representative organizations of employers and workers, and representative organizations of and for persons with disabilities are consulted on the matters covered by the Convention. Please also continue to supply information on the implementation of Law No. 146(I)/2009, as well as any other practical information on matters relating to the manner in which the Convention is applied.

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

Implementation of vocational rehabilitation and employment policies for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the detailed information provided in the Government’s report received in September 2010 in reply to its 2005 direct request. The Government indicates that a new Department for Social Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities has been established since January 2009. The Committee notes that the Recruitment of Persons with Disabilities in the Wider Public Sector (Special Provisions) Law No. 146(I)/2009 provides that 10 per cent of vacancies in every organization of the wider public sector (public service, educational service, semi-governmental organizations and local authorities) must be filled by persons with disabilities who meet specific objective criteria. The Government indicates that a new scheme co-financed by the European Social Fund and national funds was introduced by the Department of Labour, which offers incentives to private enterprises in order to recruit persons with disabilities. Under this scheme, 75 per cent of the annual wages and social security contributions of every person with disabilities employed are subsidized for up to €15,000 yearly for every employee for the first two years of employment. The Committee invites the Government to supply in its next report information on the achievement of the quotas established by Law No. 146(I)/2009 for the employment of persons with disabilities. Please also provide, as soon as they become available, any relevant documents containing statistics, studies or surveys on the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

1. Promotion of employment for workers with disabilities in the private and public sectors. The Committee notes the Government’s brief report, which contains indications on two legislative texts adopted in 2000 and 2004. It requests the Government to describe in more details, in its next report, the measures adopted to enable persons with disabilities to obtain and retain employment and to advance in their profession. It also asks the Government to provide 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). Please also indicate how the representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted on the matters set out in Article 5.

2. Furthermore, the Committee asks the Government to provide, in its next report, general information, including, for example, statistics, extracts of reports, studies or surveys, on the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee has noted the information supplied by the Government in reply to its earlier comments, and in particular that concerning measures to promote employment opportunities for disabled persons in the open labour market and special positive measures aimed at effective equality of opportunity and treatment between disabled workers and other workers (Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention).

Article 7. The Committee notes that vocational guidance and placement services for the disabled persons are provided within the existing employment services for all workers. The Government also indicates that specialised vocational guidance for disabled persons is provided at the Centre for the Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled and that the provision of specialised vocational guidance to all persons concerned is amongst the aims of the Rehabilitation Council and of the newly established Service for the Care and Rehabilitation of the Disabled.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply, in its future reports, information on measures taken or envisaged with a view to providing and evaluating vocational guidance for the disabled persons, as well as, more generally, on the progress made in the application of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

The Committee takes note of the Government's first report on the application of the Convention. It would be grateful if, in its next report, the Government would provide information on the following points:

Article 3 of the Convention. Please indicate whether any measures have been taken or envisaged by the Government with a view to promote employment opportunities for disabled persons in the open labour market.

Article 4. Please indicate any special positive measures aimed at effective equality of opportunity and treatment between disabled workers and other workers with regard to private sector employment.

Article 7. Please describe measures taken or envisaged with a view to providing and evaluating vocational guidance to the disabled persons. Please indicate whether existing services for workers are used with necessary adaptations in order to enable disabled persons to secure, retain and advance in employment.