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

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Guinea (Ratification: 1995)

Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. National policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Government describes in its report the establishment, within the framework of the Community-based National Rehabilitation Programme (PNRBC), of a school for the deaf (with 215 students); a vocational training centre for the blind and partially sighted (with 45 students); and two schools for persons with disabilities in Kankan and N’Zérékoré (with 35 and 45 students, respectively). The Government adds that these schools not only promote the integration of children with disabilities into school, but also their vocational training. The Committee notes that 83 persons with disabilities were recruited in the public service in 2006. The Government indicates that 55 files for persons with disabilities are currently undergoing registration, and that 25 other files are currently being processed. Moreover, the organization of an inclusive national workshop on Convention No. 159 and on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with a view to the establishment of a follow-up mechanism, is among the measures envisaged by the responsible Ministry. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures implemented with a view to promoting employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors, and on any other measures adopted within the framework of the PNRBC. Please continue providing information on the application of the Convention in practice, including statistics, extracts from reports, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention.

Article 4. Equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities – whether men or women – and other workers. The Government reports that, in view of the circumstances affecting the country since 2006, the Bill on the protection and promotion of persons with disabilities has not been finalized. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any special positive measures adopted to ensure effective equality of opportunity between workers with disabilities and workers in general, and between men and women workers with disabilities.

Article 7. Services accessible to persons with disabilities. The Government reports a series of training measures launched by the National Directorate of Technical Education and Vocational Training to provide young deaf persons with vocational skills in a trade. The Committee notes the services offered by the Guinean Federation of Persons with Disabilities, particularly in rural areas, and the support of development partners. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the action taken to enable 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 noted previously that the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities in their own environment (rural areas and remote communities) was an essential objective of the PNRBC and that certain measures had been taken, such as the establishment of branches of the National Orthopaedic Centre in the interior of the country (Mamou and N’Zérékoré) and the granting of exemption from tax and duty for all enterprises of persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the development of services for persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities.

Article 9. Qualified staff made available to persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in response to its previous comments concerning the number of staff trained and made available to persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken to ensure the availability to the persons concerned of suitably qualified vocational rehabilitation staff.