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Implementation of a national policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2010, which contains some general indications on the implementation of Law No. 39 of 1975, as amended by Law No. 49 of 1982. The Committee also notes that the Ministry of Manpower and Migration adopted the principle of “a normal life is the right of every person with disabilities” in order to achieve equality of opportunity and treatment. A specialized training programme for employees in the Ministry units working in the area of the employment of persons with disabilities was established. The Committee invites the Government to supply information on the results achieved by the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities in terms of their integration into the open labour market (Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention). It also requests the Government to provide information on the practical application of the Convention, including statistics (disaggregated, as much as possible, by age, sex and the nature of the disability), extracts from reports, studies and enquiries, concerning the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

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1. Equal opportunity and treatment. In relation with its previous comments, the Committee notes that no bilateral agreements were concluded with relevant countries to eventually extend rehabilitation services free of charge to all non-nationals. The Committee asks the Government to include, in its next report, updated information on any special measures aiming at effective equality of opportunity and treatment (Article 4 of the Convention).

2. Qualification of rehabilitation counsellors and other staff. The Committee notes that the Government included the training of counsellors in its training plan. The Committee would appreciate receiving more information on the outcome of the plan and on any development regarding its implementation (Article 9).

3. Practical application. Please also provide statistics, extracts from reports, studies and inquiries, concerning the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

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The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, in particular the cooperative project established to assess the capacity of individuals and determine the assistance they need and the public awareness campaign the Government has launched to combat discrimination.

Article 4 of the Convention.  Further to previous comments, the Government replies that non-nationals with disabilities are included in the definition of persons with disabilities. In addition, foreigners from countries with which Egypt has bilateral agreements are fully covered. However, it is necessary to charge foreigners for services when there is no reciprocity agreement with their country of nationality, as the rehabilitation and employment system is already overstretched. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed in future reports of the progress made in concluding bilateral agreements with all relevant countries and in eventually extending rehabilitation services free of charge to all non-nationals.

Article 9.  The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it is in the process of implementing a five-year plan which would include training of counsellors. It would appreciate receiving further information in future reports on the outcome of this training.

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The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments.

Article 1, paragraph 4, of the Convention. In its previous comments the Committee noted that section 1 of Act No. 39 of 1975 on the rehabilitation of the disabled, amended by Act No. 49 of 1982, provides that this law applies to foreigners resident in the country subject to reciprocity. The Government states in its report that there is no discrepancy between national legislation and this Article of the Convention and repeats that no foreigner is excluded from access to the services of rehabilitation establishments, provided that he bears the costs. The Committee wishes to recall in this connection that the Convention is not based on the concept of reciprocity but applies to all categories of disabled persons and aims to ensure equality of treatment for all to whom it is applicable. The Committee again expresses the hope that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to reconsider the question and bring the national legislation into full conformity with the Convention on this point. It requests the Government to supply information in its next report on all progress made in this direction.

Article 5. The Committee notes with interest the information supplied by the Government concerning the tripartite consultations held during the 20th conference of the Arab Labour Organization with a view to the adoption of the Arab Convention on the rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons. The Government states that several meetings have been held with employers' and workers' representatives and with the representatives of organizations for the disabled in order to obtain effective participation in formulating the national policy on occupational rehabilitation of disabled persons. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify whether representative organizations of and for disabled persons are also consulted on "the implementation of the said policy", as required by this Article of the Convention.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on the activities of the Egyptian Occupational Assessment Centre in the area of occupational guidance and training for disabled persons. It would be grateful if the Government would also indicate in its next report the extent to which existing services for workers generally are used, with necessary adaptations, in the area of occupational guidance and training, placement and employment so that disabled persons can secure, retain and advance in employment.

Article 9. The Committee notes the general information supplied by the Government concerning the organization of training and rehabilitation sessions and information meetings for workers in the various governorates. It would be grateful if the Government would describe in more detail the measures taken to ensure the training and availability of rehabilitation counsellors and other suitably qualified vocational rehabilitation staff responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of disabled persons.

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The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in October 1992 and January 1993 in reply to its previous comments. In particular, it notes with interest the information on the establishment and development of occupational rehabilitation services for the disabled in rural areas and remote communities, and the statistics provided in accordance with Part V of the report form.

Article 1, paragraph 4, of the Convention. In its previous direct request, the Committee noted that section 1 of Act No. 39 of 1975 on the rehabilitation of the disabled, amended by Act No. 49 of 1982, provides that this law applies to foreigners resident in the country subject to reciprocity, whereas the Convention applies to all categories of disabled persons without any condition of reciprocity on the basis of nationality. The Government indicates in its report received in October 1992 that this provision of the national legislation is currently being examined with the Ministry of Social Affairs. In a later communication, received in January 1993, it states that no foreigner is excluded from access to the services of rehabilitation establishments, provided that he bears the costs. The Committee again expresses the hope that the Government will take the necessary measures to bring the national legislation into full conformity with the Convention on this point and that the next report will contain information to this effect.

Article 5. The Government indicates that representative employers' and workers' organizations are consulted on the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of the disabled by means of representation of the Ministry on the various councils and committees, including the Central Council for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and the Committee for the Limitation of Handicaps. In addition, it indicates that contacts have been established with trade unions, the Egyptian Trade Union Confederation and the Chambers of Commerce, and that there is coordination in the implementation of policies on the rehabilitation and employment of the disabled. The Committee notes this information and would be grateful if the Government would provide more detailed information on the consultations held with workers' and employers' organizations during the period covered by the report and would state whether representative organizations of and for disabled persons were also consulted. It asks the Government to take account, in this connection, of the provisions contained in Part VI of Recommendation No. 168.

Article 7. The Committee notes from the Government's reply that an Occupational Assessment Centre has been established to determine the skills and capacities of disabled persons with a view to assisting them in their choice of a suitable occupation. The Government also indicates that efforts are currently under way, with the assistance of existing services, to make the necessary adaptations for the employment of the disabled. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide additional information on the activities of the above-mentioned Centre in the area of occupational guidance and training and on the extent to which existing services for workers generally are used, with necessary adaptations.

Article 9. The Committee notes the general information supplied by the Government. It would be grateful if the Government would describe in more detail the measures taken to ensure that staff suitably qualified in vocational rehabilitation are available for the persons concerned. The Government may wish to refer, in this connection, to the provisions of Part V of Recommendation No. 168.

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The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its first report on the application of the Convention. It asks the Government to provide, in its next report, information on the following points:

Article 1, paragraph 4, of the Convention. The Committee notes that section 1 of Law No. 39 of 1975 on the rehabilitation of the disabled, modified by Law No. 49 of 1982, provides that this Law applies to foreigners resident in the country subject to the reciprocity (with an exception for the Palestinians), whereas this Article does not allow any exclusion from the scope of the Convention on the basis of nationality and therefore the principle of reciprocity should not be applied. The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to bring the national legislation into full conformity with the Convention on this point.

Article 5. Please describe in more detail the manner in which representative employers' and workers' organisations are consulted on the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons. Please also indicate whether the representative organisations of and for disabled persons are consulted on the implementation of the said policy, and if so in what manner.

Article 7. Please describe measures taken with a view to providing and evaluating vocational guidance and vocational training services for disabled persons. Please indicate whether existing services for workers generally are used with necessary adaptations.

Article 8. Please indicate whether any measures have been taken or envisaged to promote the establishment and development of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for disabled persons in rural areas and remote communities, in accordance with this Article.

Article 9. Please describe in more detail the measures taken to ensure the availability of suitably qualified staff responsible for the vocational guidance, vocational training, placement and employment of disabled persons.

Point V of the report form. Please provide a general appreciation of the manner in which the Convention is applied, including for example statistics, extracts from reports, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention.