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Effective implementation of the provisions of the Convention. The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government’s report received in June 2010, in reply to the direct request of 2007. The Government indicates that eight draft decrees have been prepared and submitted for signature to enable the application of the Framework Act of 10 November 1998 in favour of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that the process for the signature of these draft decrees is still in progress owing to the socio-political instability experienced by the country. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the progress achieved in the effective implementation of the draft decrees implementing the Act of 10 November 1998, in order to ensure effective application of the provisions of the Convention.

Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. Adoption and periodic review of a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that the document concerning the national policy for persons with disabilities has been drawn up, finalized and is awaiting validation before its adoption and implementation. The Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position in its next report to supply information on the progress achieved in implementing the document on the national policy for persons with disabilities. It also requests the Government to provide further information on vocational rehabilitation and employment programmes and their results, in terms of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Committee trusts that the Government will be in a position in its next report to provide relevant, up-to-date information on the application of the Convention in practice, including, for example, statistics, extracts from reports and studies or inquiries on the matters covered by the Convention (Part V of the report form).

Article 4. Equality of opportunities and treatment. The Government indicates that, with regard to wages for workers with disabilities compared with those of other workers, no data relating to the private sector are available. The Government points out that the General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire took part in the preparation of a draft decree on the employment of persons with disabilities but that private enterprises showed some reluctance to employ persons with disabilities, while never referring to disability as the reason for refusal to recruit. As regards the public sector, wages for persons with disabilities recruited on the basis of an exemption, currently numbering 667 persons, depend on the various salary scales existing in the public service. The Government considers that the available information does not point to any discrimination in the area. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether special positive measures are contemplated, particularly in the private sector, to ensure equality of opportunity between persons with disabilities and other workers. As regards the issue of equality of treatment in wages between persons with disabilities and other workers, the Government states that the adoption of the decree concerning employment for persons with disabilities in relation to Framework Act No. 98-594 (section 14) might represent the beginnings of a solution, in as much as it stipulates that wages for the recipients of compulsory employment measures may not be less than those resulting from legal or regulatory provisions or from the collective labour agreement or accord. However, where the occupational output of the persons concerned is manifestly reduced, reductions in wages may be authorized according to conditions laid down by regulation. The Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position to indicate how equality of treatment is ensured, particularly regarding wages for persons with disabilities and other workers, by providing specific information on any regulation implementing section 14 of the abovementioned Decree, particularly in its part dealing with exemptions.

Article 5. Consultation of the social partners. The Government indicates that, since the establishment in 2003 of the Directorate for the Promotion of Persons with Disabilities (DPPH), cooperation with the General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d’Ivoire and structures for the support of persons with disabilities have improved substantially. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on the manner in which the representative employers’ and workers’ organizations participate in the consultations required by the Convention. It also requests the Government to indicate whether the representative organizations of or for disabled persons are consulted in practice regarding the implementation of a vocational rehabilitation and employment policy for persons with disabilities.

Article 8. Services in rural areas. The Government indicates that the community rehabilitation programme in seven localities was effective from 1990 to 1996 but since then has been discontinued for lack of funds and will resume in 2011. The Committee requests the Government to supply information in its next report on the progress achieved with regard to the revival of the community rehabilitation programme and to describe the measures taken in the context of this programme to promote the establishment and development of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities.

Article 9. Training of suitably qualified staff. The Government indicates that the task of training trainers has been assigned to the National Social Training Institute (INFS); 225 specialist instructors and 61 special education teachers have been trained in methods and techniques for the care of persons with disabilities. The Government also states that, with regard to in-service training for social workers, only the reinforcement of staff capacities in the areas of sign language and Braille script at the Ivorian School for the Deaf (ECIS) and the Ivorian National Institute for the Blind (INIPA) is taken care of by the Directorate for the Promotion of Persons with Disabilities. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on the measures taken to ensure that suitably qualified vocational rehabilitation staff are made available to persons with disabilities.

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1. Effective implementation of the provisions of the Convention. The Government indicates in its report received in May 2007 that, in the context of the implementation of the Convention, several decrees implementing Framework Act No. 98-594 of 10 November 1998 for persons with disabilities have been drawn up and are in the process of being signed. The Committee trusts that the decrees implementing the Act of 10 November 1998 will be implemented soon to ensure the effective application of the provisions of the Convention, in particular Articles 2, 4 and 5. The Government is requested to continue to provide information in its next report on any developments in this regard.

2. Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. Adoption and periodic review of a national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the measures implemented, in particular by the Directorate for Mutual Insurance and Social Affairs in the School Environment (DMOSS) of the Ministry of National Education, to promote access to education and training for children and young persons with disabilities. With regard to the vocational training of persons with disabilities, the Government refers to the actions implemented, in particular, by the Agency for Employment and Vocational Training (AGEFOP), the Vocational Training and Development Fund (FDFP) and the Agency for Employment Studies and Promotion (AGEPE), which has conducted a study on the identification of the training and integration needs of persons with disabilities, the results of which are about to be assessed. The Government indicates that much remains to be done with regard to the economic integration of persons with disabilities, and that a national policy document on persons with disabilities is being drawn up by the Ministry for the Family, Women and Social Affairs. The Committee also notes Decree No. 2003-383 of 9 October 2003 defining the structure of the Ministry for Solidarity, Social Security and Persons with Disabilities and, in particular, the Ministry’s seven social programmes contained in the annex. The Committee requests the Government to provide in its next report the documents relating to its national policy on persons with disabilities, to indicate the vocational rehabilitation and employment measures adopted in the context of the national policy on persons with disabilities, and to provide information on the results of the social programmes implemented.

3. Article 4. Effective equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities and other workers. The Committee notes that, in reply to its previous comments, the Government indicates that the first step towards achieving the objectives of Article 4 of the Convention is section 14 of the Decree on the employment of persons with disabilities, which is about to be signed and which provides that “the wage of the beneficiaries of the employment obligation may not be below that resulting from the laws or regulations or from the collective labour agreement. However, where the work performance of the persons concerned is manifestly reduced, wage reductions may be authorized under conditions established by regulation”. Recalling that Article 4 of the Convention requires a national policy on the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities based on the principle of equal opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities and other workers, the Committee requests the Government to indicate how equality of treatment between workers with disabilities and other workers is ensured, particularly in terms of wages, by providing information on any regulations likely to be adopted under section 14 of the abovementioned Decree. Noting the Government’s indication that, pending the signature of the Decree on the employment of persons with disabilities providing for a quota of 3 per cent per year for the hiring of workers with disabilities, the special recruitment, without competition, of 337 persons with disabilities to decent and stable employment in the civil service has been authorized, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on any other special positive measures adopted with a view to ensuring the effective equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities and other workers.

4. Article 5. Consultation of social partners. The Committee refers to its direct request of 2004 in which it noted that the employers’ and workers’ organizations, as well as the representative organizations of and for persons with disabilities, do not seem to be consulted on the implementation of the national policy on the vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate how it ensures in practice that the representative organizations of employers and workers and the representative organizations of and for persons with disabilities are consulted on all matters covered by the Convention.

5. Article 8. Services for persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities. The Committee refers to its previous comments in which it noted the establishment of a programme for “community-based rehabilitation” in seven communities and trusts that the Government’s next report will contain information on the measures adopted, in particular under this programme, to promote the creation and development of vocational rehabilitation and employment services for persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities.

6. Article 9. Training of staff responsible for persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that one of the major difficulties in ensuring the integration of persons with disabilities remains the lack of qualified staff, but that to remedy that situation a training project for trainers has been established. To date, 225 specialist educators and 61 specialist teachers have been trained and a programme to strengthen the capacities of social workers in service in specialist establishments has been introduced over a period of three years. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on developments in this regard to ensure that staff who are suitably qualified in vocational rehabilitation are made available to persons with disabilities.

7. Part V of the report form. Information on the application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the results of the study on the identification of the training and integration needs of persons with disabilities conducted by the AGEPE are available. It requests the Government to provide a copy of these results in its next report and also any information available on the manner in which the provisions of the Convention are applied in practice (statistics, extracts from reports, studies or investigations).

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The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its 2004 direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention, which was received in September 2002. It also notes the interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) of 2002, and more particularly the Government’s will “to ensure in an equitable manner the access of population groups to basic social services and a decent living standard, with a view to reducing inequalities and regional disparities”. The Committee notes with interest that the Government is committed “in the field of social protection, through a coherent policy, to relieve the difficult situation of poor and vulnerable groups”, particularly by improving the living standards of persons with disabilities. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the achievement of the objectives of the interim PRSP of 2002 established in the field covered by the Convention and to provide additional information on the following points.

2. Article 2 of the Convention. Effect given to the Convention. The Committee notes the provisions of Framework Act No. 98-564, of 10 November 1998, for persons with disabilities. It notes that the task of monitoring the implementation of this Act is entrusted to the Subdirectorate for the Promotion of Persons with Disabilities of the Ministry of Social Affairs and National Solidarity (DecreeNo. 2000-144 of 14 March 2001). The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether the necessary implementing decrees for the implementation of Framework Act No. 98-564 have already been adopted and to provide information on the measures taken to give effect to them.

3. Periodic review of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes, from the information provided by the Government in its report, that the national policy is modified when the laws and regulations in force are revised. It recalls that this provision of the Convention provides for “a periodical review of the national policy, which involves evaluation of the policy at intervals that are left to members’ discretion” (paragraph 132 of the General Survey of 1998 on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons), and it asks the Government to indicate the frequency established for the review of the national policy.

4. Article 4. Effective equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities, whether men or women, and other workers. With regard to equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities and other workers, the Committee notes that section 50 of the Inter-Occupational Collective Agreement of 1977 provides that the employer is entitled to assign a disabled worker a wage that is lower than the minimum wage in the occupational category to which she or he belongs. Furthermore, with regard to equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women workers with disabilities, the Committee recalls its direct request of 2003 on the application of the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), in which it drew the Government’s attention to section 14(2) of Act No. 92-570, of 11 September 1992, under which access to certain posts may be restricted to individuals of one sex or the other on grounds of physical aptitude. The Committee noted the linkage in this respect with the provisions of Convention No. 111. In its direct request of 2003 on the application of the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), it expressed concern with regard to equality of opportunity and treatment between women and men. The Committee would therefore be grateful if the Government would indicate the manner in which equality of opportunity between workers with disabilities and other workers in general is ensured in practice. It also asks the Government to indicate any special positive measures aimed at effective equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities, whether men or women, and other workers.

5. Article 5. Consultation of the representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes that the organizations of employers and workers, as well as representative organizations of and for persons with disabilities, do not appear to have been consulted in the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures adopted in practice in accordance with this provision of the Convention.

6. Article 8. Services for persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities. The Committee notes that the Government has established a programme of “community-based rehabilitation” in seven communities. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the objectives and actions carried out in the context of this programme. Please indicate any new programme for persons with disabilities in rural areas or remote communities.

7. Article 9. Training of staff responsible for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s indications and observes that the interim PRSP of 2002 envisages the enhancement of the training of staff in centres for persons with disabilities. Please continue to provide detailed information on this matter.

8. Part V of the report form. The Committee asks the Government to provide a general appreciation in its next report of the manner in which the Convention is applied, including for example statistics and extracts from reports, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention.

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its 2004 direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention, which was received in September 2002. It also notes the interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) of 2002, and more particularly the Government’s will "to ensure in an equitable manner the access of population groups to basic social services and a decent living standard, with a view to reducing inequalities and regional disparities". The Committee notes with interest that the Government is committed "in the field of social protection, through a coherent policy, to relieve the difficult situation of poor and vulnerable groups", particularly by improving the living standards of persons with disabilities. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the achievement of the objectives of the interim PRSP of 2002 established in the field covered by the Convention and to provide additional information on the following points.

2. Article 2 of the Convention. Effect given to the Convention. The Committee notes the provisions of Framework Act No. 98-564, of 10 November 1998, for persons with disabilities. It notes that the task of monitoring the implementation of this Act is entrusted to the Subdirectorate for the Promotion of Persons with Disabilities of the Ministry of Social Affairs and National Solidarity (Decree No. 2000-144 of 14 March 2001). The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether the necessary implementing decrees for the implementation of Framework Act No. 98-564 have already been adopted and to provide information on the measures taken to give effect to them.

3. Periodic review of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes, from the information provided by the Government in its report, that the national policy is modified when the laws and regulations in force are revised. It recalls that this provision of the Convention provides for "a periodical review of the national policy, which involves evaluation of the policy at intervals that are left to members’ discretion" (paragraph 132 of the General Survey of 1998 on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons), and it asks the Government to indicate the frequency established for the review of the national policy.

4. Article 4. Effective equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities, whether men or women, and other workers. With regard to equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities and other workers, the Committee notes that section 50 of the Inter-Occupational Collective Agreement of 1977 provides that the employer is entitled to assign a disabled worker a wage that is lower than the minimum wage in the occupational category to which she or he belongs. Furthermore, with regard to equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women workers with disabilities, the Committee recalls its direct request of 2003 on the application of the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), in which it drew the Government’s attention to section 14(2) of Act No. 92-570, of 11 September 1992, under which access to certain posts may be restricted to individuals of one sex or the other on grounds of physical aptitude. The Committee noted the linkage in this respect with the provisions of Convention No. 111. In its direct request of 2003 on the application of the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), it expressed concern with regard to equality of opportunity and treatment between women and men. The Committee would therefore be grateful if the Government would indicate the manner in which equality of opportunity between workers with disabilities and other workers in general is ensured in practice. It also asks the Government to indicate any special positive measures aimed at effective equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities, whether men or women, and other workers.

5. Article 5. Consultation of the representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes that the organizations of employers and workers, as well as representative organizations of and for persons with disabilities, do not appear to have been consulted in the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures adopted in practice in accordance with this provision of the Convention.

6. Article 8. Services for persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities. The Committee notes that the Government has established a programme of "community-based rehabilitation" in seven communities. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the objectives and actions carried out in the context of this programme. Please indicate any new programme for persons with disabilities in rural areas or remote communities.

7. Article 9. Training of staff responsible for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s indications and observes that the interim PRSP of 2002 envisages the enhancement of the training of staff in centres for persons with disabilities. Please continue to provide detailed information on this matter.

8. Part V of the report form. The Committee asks the Government to provide a general appreciation in its next report of the manner in which the Convention is applied, including for example statistics and extracts from reports, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention.

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1. The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention, which was received in September 2002. It also notes the interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) of 2002, and more particularly the Government’s will "to ensure in an equitable manner the access of population groups to basic social services and a decent living standard, with a view to reducing inequalities and regional disparities". The Committee notes with interest that the Government is committed "in the field of social protection, through a coherent policy, to relieve the difficult situation of poor and vulnerable groups", particularly by improving the living standards of persons with disabilities. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the achievement of the objectives of the interim PRSP of 2002 established in the field covered by the Convention and to provide additional information on the following points.

2. Article 2 of the Convention. Effect given to the Convention. The Committee notes the provisions of Framework Act No. 98-564, of 10 November 1998, for persons with disabilities. It notes that the task of monitoring the implementation of this Act is entrusted to the Subdirectorate for the Promotion of Persons with Disabilities of the Ministry of Social Affairs and National Solidarity (Decree No. 2000-144, of 14 March 2001). The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether the necessary implementing decrees for the implementation of Framework Act No. 98-564 have already been adopted and to provide information on the measures taken to give effect to them.

3. Periodic review of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee notes, from the information provided by the Government in its report, that the national policy is modified when the laws and regulations in force are revised. It recalls that this provision of the Convention provides for "a periodical review of the national policy, which involves evaluation of the policy at intervals that are left to members’ discretion" (paragraph 132 of the General Survey of 1998 on vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons), and it asks the Government to indicate the frequency established for the review of the national policy.

4. Article 4. Effective equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities, whether men or women, and other workers. With regard to equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities and other workers, the Committee notes that section 50 of the Inter-Occupational Collective Agreement of 1977 provides that the employer is entitled to assign a disabled worker a wage that is lower than the minimum wage in the occupational category to which she or he belongs. Furthermore, with regard to equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women workers with disabilities, the Committee recalls its direct request of 2003 on the application of the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), in which it drew the Government’s attention to section 14(2) of Act No. 92-570, of 11 September 1992, under which access to certain posts may be restricted to individuals of one sex or the other on grounds of physical aptitude. The Committee noted the linkage in this respect with the provisions of Convention No. 111. In its direct request of 2003 on the application of the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), it expressed concern with regard to equality of opportunity and treatment between women and men. The Committee would therefore be grateful if the Government would indicate the manner in which equality of opportunity between workers with disabilities and other workers in general is ensured in practice. It also asks the Government to indicate any special positive measures aimed at effective equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities, whether men or women, and other workers.

5. Article 5. Consultation  of the representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes that the organizations of employers and workers, as well as representative organizations of and for persons with disabilities, do not appear to have been consulted in the implementation of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures adopted in practice in accordance with this provision of the Convention.

6. Article 8. Services for persons with disabilities in rural areas and remote communities. The Committee notes that the Government has established a programme of "community-based rehabilitation" in seven communities. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the objectives and actions carried out in the context of this programme. Please indicate any new programme for persons with disabilities in rural areas or remote communities.

7. Article 9. Training of staff responsible for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s indications and observes that the interim PRSP of 2002 envisages the enhancement of the training of staff in centres for persons with disabilities. Please continue to provide detailed information on this matter.

8. Part V of the report form. The Committee asks the Government to provide a general appreciation in its next report of the manner in which the Convention is applied, including for example statistics and extracts from reports, studies and inquiries concerning the matters covered by the Convention.