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1. Articles 2 and 7 of the Convention. Implementation of a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in November 2007 containing certain information required following the ratification of the Convention. It notes that a national strategy for persons with disabilities has been formulated setting out policies, the means for their implementation, and regular review which will soon be adopted by the Council of Ministers. In this respect, the Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report whether the national strategy for persons with disabilities has been adopted in practice and, if so, to specify the content of the policies, their implementation and regular review. Please provide information on the practical measures adopted or envisaged with a view to ensuring vocational guidance and training, placement and employment services to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment, and on the necessary adaptations of such services.

2. Article 3. Promotion of the employment opportunities of persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that the Law on the Public Service and the Labour Code establish the obligation to reserve 5 per cent of jobs for persons with disabilities in both public sector institutions and private and mixed establishments. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on: (i) the manner in which compliance is ensured in practice with the compulsory quota of jobs for persons with disabilities in public, private and mixed establishments; (ii) the other measures adopted or envisaged to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities on the open labour market; and (iii) the manner in which access to vocational rehabilitation measures is guaranteed for all categories of persons with disabilities.

3. Article 4. Equality of opportunity. The Government refers in its report to articles 41, 25 and 125 of the Constitution of the Republic of Yemen respecting equality of citizens and freedom of choice of employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any other measures adopted or envisaged with a view to ensuring effective equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women workers with disabilities and other workers.

4. Article 5. Consultation of representative organizations. The Government indicates that there are a number of specialized associations for persons with disabilities in most of the governorates of the Republic of Yemen, and that a National Union of Persons with Disabilities coordinates the work of the various institutions responsible for assistance and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The Government adds that the National Union and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry are members of the administrative board of the Fund for the Rehabilitation and Well-being of Persons with Disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report: (i) the purpose, arrangements and periodicity of consultations held in the administrative board of the Fund for the Rehabilitation and Well-being of Persons with Disabilities; and (ii) the manner in which representative workers’ organizations are consulted on the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities.

5. Article 9. Training and availability of rehabilitation counsellors and qualified staff for persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that it is endeavouring, through the Department for Social Rehabilitation in the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and in collaboration with the Fund for the Rehabilitation and Well-being of Persons with Disabilities, to suitably train qualified staff to address issues relating to employment and the vocational rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the measures adopted to ensure that suitably qualified staff for vocational rehabilitation are made available to deal with persons with disabilities.