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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its first report on the application of the Convention. It would be grateful if in its next report the Government would communicate additional information on the following points:

Article 2 of the Convention. The Government indicates, while describing policy statements on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons, that directives included in the Countries' National Development Plan provide for vocational training and employment opportunities for the disabled. It also states that a draft social policy has been prepared and submitted to the Government for approval. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply with its next report a copy of the directives referred to above, as well as a copy of the social policy document, as soon as it is adopted. Please also indicate the manner in which the national policy is implemented and periodically reviewed, in accordance with this Article.

Article 3. The Committee notes the Government's statement to the effect that no special measures to enable disabled persons to compete in the open labour market have yet been adopted. It recalls in this connection the provision of this Article, according to which the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons shall aim at promoting employment opportunities for such persons in the open labour market. The Committee hopes that the Government will take appropriate measures to give full effect to this provision of the Convention. It would also like to draw the Government's attention to Paragraph 11(a) of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Recommendation, 1983 (No. 168), which provides guidelines for the application of this Article of the Convention.

Article 5. The Government refers in its report to regular contacts of the Rehabilitation Agency with organizations of disabled persons. Please indicate whether these organizations, as well as representative organizations of employers and workers, are consulted on the implementation of the national policy of vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons. Please also describe the manner in which the above-mentioned organizations are consulted on the matters referred to in this Article.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on vocational rehabilitation and employment services for disabled persons provided by the Rehabilitation Agency and other specialized public and private organizations. Please indicate whether existing services for workers generally are also used, with necessary adaptations, to enable disabled persons to secure, retain and advance in employment.

Article 8. The Committee notes the information concerning the rural vocational rehabilitation project, which has been implemented on a pilot basis. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate, in its next report, whether any measures are taken or envisaged to promote the establishment and development of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for disabled persons in remote communities, as required by this Article.

Point V of the report form. The Government indicates that there is no statistical information available concerning the matters covered by the Convention. The Committee hopes that such information will be provided as soon as it is available and asks the Government to supply, with its next report, any relevant extracts from reports, studies and inquiries, concerning these matters (for example, with respect to particular areas or branches of activity or particular categories of disabled workers).