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The Committee notes with interest the information supplied by the Government in its first and second reports on the application of the Convention. The Committee notes in particular the Government's intention expressed in the report to develop a new policy in this field which may form part of the comprehensive employment policy being pursued. The Government indicates that a programme for community-based rehabilitation of disabled persons has been included into the National Plan and Budget, and that the revised labour legislation contains a provision (section 39) which empowers the Minister to make regulations governing the employment of disabled workers. It hopes that the Government will be able to describe, in its next report, the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons and indicate the manner in which the national policy is implemented and periodically reviewed, as required in Article 2 of the Convention. It would be grateful if the Government would supply a copy of the revised national provision referred to above. The Committee also asks the Government to provide additional information on the following points:

Article 1, paragraphs 1 and 4, and Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee notes that the definition of "disabled person" given in the report does not contain express reference to mental impairment and that, according to the report, vocational rehabilitation measures cover most categories of disabled persons but exclude mental retardation. It would like to draw the Government's attention to the fact that, according to Article 1, paragraph 4, "the provisions of this Convention shall apply to all categories of disabled persons", and that, according to Article 3, the national policy "shall aim at ensuring that appropriate vocational rehabilitation measures are made available to all categories of disabled persons". The Committee therefore asks the Government to adopt measures with a view to ensure that vocational rehabilitation measures are available to all categories of disabled persons, including those with mental impairment, and to report any progress achieved in this regard. Please also describe the manner in which employment opportunities for disabled persons are promoted in the open labour market, as requested under Article 3.

Article 4. Please state whether equality of opportunity and treatment for disabled men and women workers is respected. Please also indicate any special positive measures aimed at effective equality of opportunity and treatment between disabled workers and other workers.

Article 5. The Committee notes from the Government's report that matters concerning disabled workers have been settled in consultation with employers' and workers' representatives and the National Umbrella Union for Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU). Please describe in more detail the manner in which representative employers' and workers' organizations, as well as the NUDIPU, have been consulted on the matters referred to in this Article.

Article 7. The Government indicates in the report that within the Community Development Department of the Ministry of Local Government disabled persons are provided with vocational rehabilitation, resettlement and community-based rehabilitation services, and that the Employment Exchange of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs facilitates the placement and employment of disabled persons in the formal and informal sectors. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would describe in more detail, in its next report, measures taken both at the national and community level with a view to providing and evaluating vocational guidance, vocational training, placement, employment and other related services for disabled persons. Please also indicate whether existing services for workers generally are used with necessary adaptations.

Article 8. Please describe measures 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.

Point V of the report form. The Committee notes the Government's statement in the report to the effect that it is not possible at this stage to provide statistical data and special studies carried out concerning the application of the Convention. It hopes that the Government will supply such data, as well as extracts from reports, studies and inquiries, concerning the matters covered by the Convention, as requested by the report form, in its next report.