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1. The Committee notes the detailed information and the statistical data provided by the Government in its report for the period ending in May 2004. It invites the Government to provide additional information on the following points.

2. Vocational rehabilitation of disabled persons. The Government indicates in particular that, thanks to the Turkish Employment Agency (ISKUR), which is responsible for the vocational rehabilitation of disabled persons, the Ankara Vocational Rehabilitation Centre has enabled 48 disabled persons to benefit from four training programmes over a period of six months and, thanks to the cooperation of this agency with various institutions at national level, a total of 7,397 disabled persons have benefited from 490 specific programmes. The Government mentions the setting up of two new vocational rehabilitation centres in 2005 (in Kavacik and Sakarya Arifiye). The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that vocational rehabilitation services are accessible to all categories of disabled persons (Articles 3 and 7 of the Convention).

3. Promotion of employment for disabled persons in the private and public sectors. The Committee notes section 30 of the new Labour Code adopted by Act No. 4857 in May 2003 and the Decree of the Council of Ministers of March 2003 laying down for 2004 the minimum rate of disabled persons employed in the public sector at 4 per cent and in the private sector at 3 or even 4 per cent. A great disparity still exists between these two sectors where, according to the May 2004 statistics provided by the Government in its report, a total of 1,756 disabled persons were employed in the private sector as against 99 in the public sector. The Committee also notes the Action Plan for 2005-2010 aimed at promoting a national employment policy for disabled persons. Nevertheless, it notes that in 2003 only 19.6 per cent of disabled persons were engaged in employment and invites the Government to continue to provide information on the measures adopted to promote the employment of disabled persons, particularly in the public sector (Article 4).

4. Effective equality of opportunity and treatment between disabled men and women workers. The Government indicates that a large number of disabled women have received vocational training. Nevertheless, the Committee notes that, in 2003, 36.98 per cent of disabled men were employed in the labour market as compared to 6.06 per cent of disabled women. It asks the Government to indicate special positive measures adopted to guarantee the effective equality of opportunity and treatment between disabled men and women workers, in accordance with Article 4.

5. Consultation of the representative organizations. The Committee recalls its direct request of 2003 and asks the Government to provide information on the activities of the Higher Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons and on the outcome of any consultations held on the application of the national policy for the rehabilitation of disabled workers. It also recalls that the representative organizations of disabled persons must be consulted under Article 5 of the Convention and asks the Government to indicate how effect is given to this provision of the Convention.

6. Vocational rehabilitation and employment services in rural areas and remote communities. The Government indicates that public education centres organize general and vocational training courses in provinces, towns, smaller towns and villages. Between 2001 and 2002, a total of 3,323 disabled persons, of which 2,207 were women and 1,696 were men, received specific training. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the measures adopted to ensure that disabled persons living in rural areas and remote communities have access to vocational rehabilitation and employment services in accordance with Article 8.