Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Egypt (Ratification: 1988)

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

Articles 1(2) and 2 of the Convention. National policy for the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government on the application of the Convention, as well as relevant measures adopted in the context of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It notes with interest the series of legislative texts and governmental initiatives taken to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, including the 2018 Act on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Act No° 10) and its implementing regulation. In particular, the Committee notes that Act No. 10 of 2018 includes a new category, of persons whose stature is less than 140 centimetres. The Committee also notes the adoption of the 2020 Act on the Establishment of the Support Fund for Persons with Disabilities. Moreover, the Committee takes note of a series of initiatives targeting persons with disabilities, in particular: “Egypt Is More Beautiful With You”, which aims to provide training and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities and “Your Profession Is Your Future”. These initiatives are being implemented throughout the country on an ongoing basis since 2018. Their objective is to meet the training requirements of persons with disabilities to prepare them to enter the modern labour market. These programmes provide persons with disabilities with suitable job opportunities following their successful completion of the training and either grant them the wherewithal to work in a freelance capacity or assist them in setting up their own enterprises. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the Support Fund created for persons with disabilities, and to indicate the extent and source of the funding allocated to it and the purposes for which funding is used. It also requests the Government to provide detailed updated information, including statistics disaggregated by sex, age and type of disability, on the nature, scope and impact of the legislative and other measures taken to ensure the inclusion in employment of persons with disabilities.

Articles 3 and 4. Promotion of employment for all categories of persons with disabilities based on the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment. The Government indicates that the new measures adopted in relation to vocational rehabilitation and promotion of employment apply to persons with varying types and degrees of disability, regardless of age or sex, or of the qualifications they may or may not possess. It adds that its objective to protect the rights – including the labour rights – of persons with disabilities and to guarantee their full enjoyment of all human rights and basic freedoms on an equal footing with others. In this respect the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the national vocational rehabilitation policy seeks, among other things, to ensure that persons with disabilities are not subject to discrimination in mainstream vocational training programmes and providing reasonable accommodation in the context of the technical and vocational training provided. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed and updated information, including statistics disaggregated by sex, age and occupation relating to the nature, scope and impact of the measures adopted to promote access to sustainable employment and decent work for persons with disabilities in the open labour market.

Article 8. Services in rural areas and remote communities. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the Government in relation to the efforts made to reach all persons with disabilities throughout the country. In this context, the Committee takes particular note of the establishment and deployment of 27 mobile training units to access villages and hamlets in rural and remote communities, which make up part of the 72 vocational training centres located throughout the country. The Government indicates that vocational training takes place in 41 different locations. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional updated information on the nature, extent and impact of the services provided by the mobile training units in rural areas and remote communities on the access of persons with disabilities to vocational guidance, education and training and placement services, including statistical data disaggregated by sex, age and occupation.

Article 9. Training of suitably qualified staff. The Government indicates that it endeavours to build the capacities of those who are responsible for all aspects of vocational guidance and training for persons with disabilities, starting with education and the integration of persons with disabilities into schools, especially apprenticeships. The Government adds that the Ministry of Manpower regularly holds courses to train staff responsible for providing vocational services. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed and updated information on the nature and impact of measures taken with a view to ensuring the training and availability of a sufficient quantity of suitably qualified counsellors specialized in providing rehabilitation services and of other qualified staff responsible for ensuring the provision of vocational guidance, training and placement services to persons with disabilities.

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

Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. Implementation of a national policy for the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information regarding the results achieved by the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, as well as information on the practical application of the Convention. The Government reports that it pays continued attention to the interests of persons with disabilities through their integration in the open labour market, their rehabilitation and on-the-job training. The Government reiterates information provided in previous reports concerning constitutional protection of the rights of persons with disabilities as well as information regarding provisions of national legislation relating to the employment of persons with disabilities, such as the establishment of a 5 per cent quota in the private and public sectors for the employment of persons with disabilities. The Government also provides information regarding the adoption of Civil Service Law No. 81 of 2016 (“the CSL”), which provides for the placement of persons with disabilities in the different units of the State administrative bodies, hours of work and paid leave. In reply to its previous comments, the Committee notes the statistics provided by the Government indicating that a total of 1,721 persons with disabilities were hired in the different public units of the State in 2016, compared to 845 in 2015, bringing the total number of persons with disabilities employed in the government sector to 29,767 in 2016. In contrast, the Committee notes that the number of persons with disabilities recruited in the private sector decreased by more than half, from 1,578 in 2015 to 776 in 2016. The Committee reiterates its request that the Government provide information on the results achieved by the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities in terms of their integration into the open labour market. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the practical application of the Convention including statistics and relevant data, disaggregated as much as possible by age, sex and the nature of the disability, extracts from reports, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention, including information on compliance with the quota system for employing persons with disabilities in both the private and public sectors. In addition, noting the decrease in the number of persons with a disability recruited in the private sector, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to promote the employment of persons with disabilities in private sector employment, across all economic sectors and occupations.

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

Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. Implementation of a national policy for the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Government reiterates the information provided in its previous report concerning legislative amendments on the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The Government further indicates that the state’s administrative body has met the statutory five per cent employment quota for persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved by the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities in terms of their integration into the open labour market. It also requests the Government to provide information on the practical application of the Convention, including statistics, both in the public and private sector.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2017.]

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

Implementation of a national policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2010, which contains some general indications on the implementation of Law No. 39 of 1975, as amended by Law No. 49 of 1982. The Committee also notes that the Ministry of Manpower and Migration adopted the principle of “a normal life is the right of every person with disabilities” in order to achieve equality of opportunity and treatment. A specialized training programme for employees in the Ministry units working in the area of the employment of persons with disabilities was established. The Committee invites the Government to supply information on the results achieved by the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities in terms of their integration into the open labour market (Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention). It also requests the Government to provide information on the practical application of the Convention, including statistics (disaggregated, as much as possible, by age, sex and the nature of the disability), extracts from reports, studies and enquiries, concerning the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

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

1. Equal opportunity and treatment. In relation with its previous comments, the Committee notes that no bilateral agreements were concluded with relevant countries to eventually extend rehabilitation services free of charge to all non-nationals. The Committee asks the Government to include, in its next report, updated information on any special measures aiming at effective equality of opportunity and treatment (Article 4 of the Convention).

2. Qualification of rehabilitation counsellors and other staff. The Committee notes that the Government included the training of counsellors in its training plan. The Committee would appreciate receiving more information on the outcome of the plan and on any development regarding its implementation (Article 9).

3. Practical application. Please also provide statistics, extracts from reports, studies and inquiries, concerning the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, in particular the cooperative project established to assess the capacity of individuals and determine the assistance they need and the public awareness campaign the Government has launched to combat discrimination.

Article 4 of the Convention.  Further to previous comments, the Government replies that non-nationals with disabilities are included in the definition of persons with disabilities. In addition, foreigners from countries with which Egypt has bilateral agreements are fully covered. However, it is necessary to charge foreigners for services when there is no reciprocity agreement with their country of nationality, as the rehabilitation and employment system is already overstretched. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed in future reports of the progress made in concluding bilateral agreements with all relevant countries and in eventually extending rehabilitation services free of charge to all non-nationals.

Article 9.  The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it is in the process of implementing a five-year plan which would include training of counsellors. It would appreciate receiving further information in future reports on the outcome of this training.

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

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments.

Article 1, paragraph 4, of the Convention. In its previous comments the Committee noted that section 1 of Act No. 39 of 1975 on the rehabilitation of the disabled, amended by Act No. 49 of 1982, provides that this law applies to foreigners resident in the country subject to reciprocity. The Government states in its report that there is no discrepancy between national legislation and this Article of the Convention and repeats that no foreigner is excluded from access to the services of rehabilitation establishments, provided that he bears the costs. The Committee wishes to recall in this connection that the Convention is not based on the concept of reciprocity but applies to all categories of disabled persons and aims to ensure equality of treatment for all to whom it is applicable. The Committee again expresses the hope that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to reconsider the question and bring the national legislation into full conformity with the Convention on this point. It requests the Government to supply information in its next report on all progress made in this direction.

Article 5. The Committee notes with interest the information supplied by the Government concerning the tripartite consultations held during the 20th conference of the Arab Labour Organization with a view to the adoption of the Arab Convention on the rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons. The Government states that several meetings have been held with employers' and workers' representatives and with the representatives of organizations for the disabled in order to obtain effective participation in formulating the national policy on occupational rehabilitation of disabled persons. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify whether representative organizations of and for disabled persons are also consulted on "the implementation of the said policy", as required by this Article of the Convention.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on the activities of the Egyptian Occupational Assessment Centre in the area of occupational guidance and training for disabled persons. It would be grateful if the Government would also indicate in its next report the extent to which existing services for workers generally are used, with necessary adaptations, in the area of occupational guidance and training, placement and employment so that disabled persons can secure, retain and advance in employment.

Article 9. The Committee notes the general information supplied by the Government concerning the organization of training and rehabilitation sessions and information meetings for workers in the various governorates. It would be grateful if the Government would describe in more detail the measures taken to ensure the training and availability of rehabilitation counsellors and other suitably qualified vocational rehabilitation staff responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of disabled persons.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in October 1992 and January 1993 in reply to its previous comments. In particular, it notes with interest the information on the establishment and development of occupational rehabilitation services for the disabled in rural areas and remote communities, and the statistics provided in accordance with Part V of the report form.

Article 1, paragraph 4, of the Convention. In its previous direct request, the Committee noted that section 1 of Act No. 39 of 1975 on the rehabilitation of the disabled, amended by Act No. 49 of 1982, provides that this law applies to foreigners resident in the country subject to reciprocity, whereas the Convention applies to all categories of disabled persons without any condition of reciprocity on the basis of nationality. The Government indicates in its report received in October 1992 that this provision of the national legislation is currently being examined with the Ministry of Social Affairs. In a later communication, received in January 1993, it states that no foreigner is excluded from access to the services of rehabilitation establishments, provided that he bears the costs. The Committee again expresses the hope that the Government will take the necessary measures to bring the national legislation into full conformity with the Convention on this point and that the next report will contain information to this effect.

Article 5. The Government indicates that representative employers' and workers' organizations are consulted on the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of the disabled by means of representation of the Ministry on the various councils and committees, including the Central Council for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and the Committee for the Limitation of Handicaps. In addition, it indicates that contacts have been established with trade unions, the Egyptian Trade Union Confederation and the Chambers of Commerce, and that there is coordination in the implementation of policies on the rehabilitation and employment of the disabled. The Committee notes this information and would be grateful if the Government would provide more detailed information on the consultations held with workers' and employers' organizations during the period covered by the report and would state whether representative organizations of and for disabled persons were also consulted. It asks the Government to take account, in this connection, of the provisions contained in Part VI of Recommendation No. 168.

Article 7. The Committee notes from the Government's reply that an Occupational Assessment Centre has been established to determine the skills and capacities of disabled persons with a view to assisting them in their choice of a suitable occupation. The Government also indicates that efforts are currently under way, with the assistance of existing services, to make the necessary adaptations for the employment of the disabled. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide additional information on the activities of the above-mentioned Centre in the area of occupational guidance and training and on the extent to which existing services for workers generally are used, with necessary adaptations.

Article 9. The Committee notes the general information supplied by the Government. It would be grateful if the Government would describe in more detail the measures taken to ensure that staff suitably qualified in vocational rehabilitation are available for the persons concerned. The Government may wish to refer, in this connection, to the provisions of Part V of Recommendation No. 168.

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

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its first report on the application of the Convention. It asks the Government to provide, in its next report, information on the following points:

Article 1, paragraph 4, of the Convention. The Committee notes that section 1 of Law No. 39 of 1975 on the rehabilitation of the disabled, modified by Law No. 49 of 1982, provides that this Law applies to foreigners resident in the country subject to the reciprocity (with an exception for the Palestinians), whereas this Article does not allow any exclusion from the scope of the Convention on the basis of nationality and therefore the principle of reciprocity should not be applied. The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to bring the national legislation into full conformity with the Convention on this point.

Article 5. Please describe in more detail the manner in which representative employers' and workers' organisations are consulted on the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons. Please also indicate whether the representative organisations of and for disabled persons are consulted on the implementation of the said policy, and if so in what manner.

Article 7. Please describe measures taken with a view to providing and evaluating vocational guidance and vocational training services for disabled persons. Please indicate whether existing services for workers generally are used with necessary adaptations.

Article 8. Please indicate whether any measures have been taken or envisaged to promote the establishment and development of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for disabled persons in rural areas and remote communities, in accordance with this Article.

Article 9. Please describe in more detail the measures taken to ensure the availability of suitably qualified staff responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of disabled persons.

Point V of the report form. Please provide a general appreciation of the manner in which the Convention is applied, including for example statistics, extracts from reports, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention.