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Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Zambia (RATIFICATION: 1989)

Other comments on C159

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Implementation of a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in October 2012 and notes with interest the adoption of the Persons with Disabilities Act, No. 6 of 2012. Further to providing the framework to promote employment for persons with disabilities, the Act also continues the existence of the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) and the National Trust Fund for Persons with Disabilities. The Government reports that data on disability was collected in the 2008 Labour Force Survey but was not analysed by the Central Statistical Office due to budget constraints. Furthermore, the Government indicates that it is in the process of incorporating disability in the 2012 Labour Force Survey and will consider including more data capturing questions on disability in the next questionnaire used for the census. The Committee notes that a survey was conducted in 2006 which established that 25.3 per cent of persons with disabilities were employed at the time of the survey and 57.2 per cent of persons with disabilities had never been employed. It also notes from the Government’s report that the draft National Policy on Disability has yet to be considered by Cabinet. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide in its next report information on the implementation of the National Policy on Disability and its resulting impact on the actual integration of persons with disabilities within the open labour market (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention). Please also provide information on the results of any surveys on disability once they have been completed and other statistical data on the vocational integration of persons with disabilities, in so far as possible, disaggregated on the basis of gender, occupation and income (Part V of the report form).

Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention. Promotion of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that the ZAPD has embarked on various media campaigns and has engaged employers with respect to the creation of a conducive working environment for persons with disabilities. It also indicates that the implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1996, through the Fifth National Development Plan has not been comprehensive due to budget constraints which lead to poor resource allocation towards programmes. In its report, the Government further states that it put in place a tax incentive for organizations employing persons with disabilities. The incentive is meant to serve as affirmative action to enhance employment placement of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that section 39 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2012, provides that the ZAPD shall, in consultation with the relevant institutions, secure the reservation of a prescribed percentage of positions in employment in the public and private sectors for persons with disabilities. In its report, the Government indicates that this percentage will be enforced through a statutory instrument to be signed by the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the implementation of the Persons with Disability Act, 2012, and on any other programmes or measures adopted within the framework of the national policy to promote employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in the open labour market. Please also provide information on the developments concerning reserved positions in employment in the public and private sectors for persons with disabilities.

Article 7. Adaptation of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for persons with disabilities. The Government recalls that it has established the National Trust Fund for Persons with Disabilities to provide microcredit to persons with disabilities. The recipients are trained in entrepreneurial skills before receiving the loans. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information on the steps taken to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment.