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Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Mauritius (RATIFICATION: 2004)

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The Committee takes note of the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee proceeded with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the supplementary information received from the Government in 2020, as well as on the basis of the information at its disposal in 2019.

Articles 2 and 4 of the Convention. Vocational rehabilitation and employment policy. Equality of opportunity and treatment. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on developments in relation to the Disability Strategy and Action Plan 2014–24 and to report on the measures taken in cooperation with the social partners in the context of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, with specific reference to educational and training opportunities, both in the public and private sectors. The Committee notes with interest the implementation of the Disability Strategy and Action Plan 2014–2024 and the Action Plan on Disability 2016–2020 developed in consultation with all stakeholders. The Government indicates that 74 per cent of the objectives set out in the Action Plan on Disability 2016–2020 have already been implemented and those that are still outstanding are being incorporated into the new Action Plan 2021–2025. It adds that the new Action Plan will be drafted in consultation with the relevant stakeholders and implemented under the supervision of a monitoring committee. The Government further indicates that a Disability Bill aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities as well as eliminating disability-related discrimination is being finalized, and a National Disability Database to track services rendered to persons with disabilities is operational. The Committee notes that the Database has already registered some 58,000 beneficiaries. The Committee notes that, according to statistics from the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board (TEDPB), 1,100 persons with disabilities are already registered with the TEDPB. The objectives of the TEDPB include operating and promoting schemes and projects for the training and employment of persons with disabilities. With respect to the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, the Government indicates that the Employment Service of the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment and Training (MLIRET) registers jobseekers, including persons with disabilities, and facilitates their placement in productive and decent jobs. Upon request, lists of registered and qualified jobseekers, including persons with disabilities, are forwarded to private sector employers for subsequent selection and placement. It is to be noted that job vacancies are also disseminated on television on a daily basis through the programme “Magazine de l’Emploi et des Metiers” and are affixed on the notice boards of the 13 Employment Information Centres. Lists of vacancies are also disseminated by email to Youth Centres, Citizens Advice Bureau Offices, Women’s Centres and NGOs. The Committee notes the detailed statistics provided by the Government on the number of persons with disabilities (disaggregated by sex) placed in employment in various establishments and organisations from 2011 to 2018. In this regard, the Government indicates that since from 2015 to 2020, 315 persons with disabilities have participated in training programmes. In addition, 347 persons with disabilities were placed in employment from August 2014 to September 2020. However, the Committee notes that according to the statistics provided, the ratio of men with disabilities accessing employment (229 persons) is much higher than that of women (81 persons). The Government indicates that the TEDPB continues to promote the employment of persons with disabilities through the TEDP Act, which requires that employers with 35 or more workers must meet a 3 per cent quota of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that in 2020, the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD) is running courses for persons with disabilities, which include courses on housekeeping, hairdressing, computer awareness and IT, automotive electricity and electronics, garment making and waiter training. It further notes that the TEDPB has employed an “Employment Disability Officer” to monitor the training programmes, to facilitate the employment of persons with disabilities while sensitizing employers on the TEDP Act. The Officer is also responsible for enlisting the services of relevant resource persons and training institutions with a view to providing needed training to person with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to provide up-to-date, detailed information on the measures taken or envisaged in the context of the Disability Strategy and Action Plan 2014–24 and the new Action Plan 2021–2025, particularly to increase the participation rate of women with disabilities in the labour market and to ensure effective equality of treatment between men and women workers with disabilities as well as between workers with disabilities and those without disabilities. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the concrete impact of the pandemic on the employment situation of workers with disabilities and the diverse measures and benefits that have been made available to them to enable them to cope with the negative impacts of the crisis. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing information on the application of the Convention in practice, including, for example, statistics disaggregated by sex, extracts from reports, and information on the status and impact of the measures adopted to promote the employment of persons with disabilities in the open labour market and all other matters related to the application of the Convention in practice. The Committee reiterates its previous request that the Government provide information on measures taken to evaluate vocational guidance, training, placement, employment and other related services to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment.

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Vocational rehabilitation and employment policies. Equality of opportunity and treatment. The Committee takes note of the report received in August 2014 indicating that most of the recommendations contained in the Policy Paper and Action Plan on Disability have been implemented, that the formulation of a new Disability Strategy and Action Plan 2014–24 is currently in process, and that a national database on disability is partially operational. The Training and Employment of Disabled Persons (Amendment) Act of 2012 has been passed, which includes, among others, notions such as “physical disfigurement” and “prejudices” impeding participation at an equal level with other members of society; and extends the functions of the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board (TEDPB) to include the education and sensitization of employers on the importance of employing persons with disabilities and contribute to remove barriers or prejudices with regard to their employment. The Committee also notes that the Equal Opportunities Act 2008 came into effect in January 2012. The Government indicates that, during the period under review, the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development (MITD) and the TEDPB have conducted four joint training programmes, for a total duration of 500 hours, which were attended by 40 participants. In addition, the Mauritius Employers Federation (MEF), the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) and the TEDPB have embarked for three consecutive years (2011–13) on a project entitled “Office and IT skills training programme for persons with disabilities”. The training offered had a total duration of 170 hours and benefited 40 persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that, between January 2013 and July 2014, 155 persons with disabilities have been placed in employment. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the developments of the Disability Strategy and Action Plan 2014–24 and to continue to report on the measures taken in cooperation with the social partners in the context of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, with specific reference to educational and training opportunities, both in the public and private sectors. It also invites the Government to continue to supply information on the measures taken to evaluate vocational guidance, training, placement, employment and other related services to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment and provide any statistics, studies or surveys on the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

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Vocational rehabilitation and employment policies. The Committee notes the detailed replies provided by the Government to the 2007 direct request in a report received in August 2009. It notes that the Mauritius Employers’ Federation (MEF) has observed that it is important to create greater awareness of the rights of persons with disabilities and thus to sensitize employers on this issue and equip them with the tools, ways and means to handle specific needs of persons with disabilities to integrate them in the world of work. The Committee further notes with interest that new policies, like requesting parastatal organizations to recruit more persons with disabilities and asking the private sector to devote part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) budget to assist the handicapped, are being taken by the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board (TEDPB) (Article 2 of the Convention). Practical effects of the actions undertaken include new opportunities for persons with disabilities in new sectors like business process outsourcing (BPO), higher training provided to persons with disabilities, more persons with disabilities being recruited on the basis of their abilities rather than on a charity basis (Article 3). Activities were organized by the MEF in collaboration with the TEDPB and the Ministry of Social Security with a view to ensuring the employability of persons with disabilities. Some 154 persons with disabilities were placed in employment from May 2007 to May 2009. The Committee invites the Government to continue supplying in its next report information on the measures taken in cooperation with the social partners in the context of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, with specific reference to educational and training opportunities both in public and private sectors. Please include information on the measures taken to evaluate vocational guidance, training, placement, employment and other related services to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment (Article 7) and provide any statistics, studies or surveys on the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

Article 4. Equality of opportunity and treatment. The Committee notes that provision has been made in the Equal Opportunities Act 2008, which was passed in the National Assembly on 16 December 2008, to prohibit direct and indirect discrimination on the ground of a person’s status which includes impairment in areas of activities such as employment and education. The Committee further notes that the Act has not yet come into operation. The Committee requests the Government to specify in its next report if the new legislation has been enforced and its impact on the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Act.

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The Committee notes the first report on the application of the Convention provided by the Government in August 2006.

1. Article 2 of the Convention. Vocational rehabilitation and employment policies. The Committee notes the measures taken under the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Act, 1996, to assist persons with disabilities develop their skills and enhance their employability. The Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board has the responsibility of reviewing national policy, preventing discrimination and encouraging the establishment of vocational training centres and institutions for persons with disabilities. As a result of these measures, some 600 trained persons with disabilities have been successfully placed in different sectors of the economy. The Committee invites the Government to provide, in its next report, more information regarding how the national employment policy is periodically reviewed by the Board. More specifically, the Committee would appreciate further information on the review process in respect of the areas covered, the frequency of the reviews and how the information gathered is then used to impact improvements.

2. Article 3. Ensuring access to the open labour market. The Government’s report also indicates that efforts are under way through collaboration between the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board and the Vocational Training Board to promote employment and training of persons with disabilities. The Committee invites the Government to provide, in its next report, information on the practical effects of the actions undertaken in promoting employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

3. Article 4. Equality of opportunity and treatment. The Committee notes that there are plans to introduce a Disability Discrimination Bill to eliminate discrimination against persons on the ground of disability in the area of employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide more information on the adoption of the new Disability Discrimination Bill and its impact on existing provisions including the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Act. It also requests the Government to provide the text of the Act once the Bill is enacted.

4. Article 5. Consultation with representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes that the membership of the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board includes representatives of employers and of persons that represent the interest of persons with disabilities. The Committee also notes the Board consults with employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee would appreciate receiving in the Government’s next report further information on the consultative mechanism and any other information on the activities of the Board and whether representative employers’ and workers’ organizations are involved in the matters covered by the Convention.

5. Article 7. Development of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that the Board constituted under the Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Act establishes vocational training centres and encourages schemes and projects for the training and employment of persons with disabilities. It also notes that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Board and the Industrial and Vocational Training Board to reserve a number of seats for persons with disabilities and to adapt the curriculum according to the needs of persons with disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to provide more information on the measures taken to evaluate vocational guidance, training, placement, employment and other related services to enable persons with disabilities secure, retain and advance in employment.

6. Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes the Government’s information on the Lois Lagesse Trust Fund to assist visually impaired persons in Mauritius, as well as the social benefits granted to persons with disabilities. It would appreciate receiving information on the impact of the actions taken to implement the measures giving effect to national policy on the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities within the meaning of the Convention including statistics, reports, studies and inquiries.