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The Committee notes with great interest the comprehensive information provided by the Government in its detailed report on the application of the Convention. It would be grateful if the Government would supply, in its next report, additional information on the following points:

Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee notes from the report of the study group on the role and responsibility of the employer in keeping persons with disabilities in employment or giving them access to it, appended to the Government's report, that advisory bodies set up at every employment office, which include representatives of trade unions, employers and disabled persons' organizations, make comments on issues concerning employment of disabled persons. It also notes the statement in the report of the study group referred to above, according to which the effectiveness of employers' and workers' organizations' activities in matters concerning employment of disabled persons is very low. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide information on consultation of employers' and workers' organizations, concerning the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons, including the measures to be taken to promote cooperation and coordination between the public and private bodies engaged in vocational rehabilitation activities, making particular emphasis on the effectiveness of such consultation.

Article 8. The Committee notes that the National Plan to Reduce Negative Impact of Disablement (1993) refers to the collaboration with representatives of communities and regions. It would be grateful if in its next report the Government would describe measures that have been taken to promote the establishment and development of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for disabled persons in rural areas, in accordance with this Article.

Article 9. The Committee notes that the National Plan of 1993 referred to above contains a provision concerning measures to be taken with a view to provide specialized training to the employment service staff dealing with the placement of disabled persons. It would be grateful if the Government would describe such measures in its next report, as well as any other measures aiming at ensuring the training and availability of rehabilitation counsellors and other suitably qualified staff responsible for vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of disabled persons.