Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Kuwait (Ratification: 1998)

Further to its 2001 direct request, the Committee notes the report received in November 2002 including details on how the provisions of Act No. 49 of 1996 on the welfare of disabled persons give effect to the Convention. It would appreciate receiving further information on the following points.

Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee has noted the provisions of sections 3, 6 and 15 of Act No. 49 by which regular, comprehensive and continuous services are envisaged for persons with disabilities, 2 per cent of public sector employment is reserved for them and rehabilitation, workshops and sheltered employment are provided to persons with disabilities. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide indications on the manner in which the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment for persons with disabilities is implemented in practice, and how it is periodically reviewed.

Article 3. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on the vocational rehabilitation measures that are made available to all categories of persons with disabilities (not only for workers in the public sector) and the manner in which employment opportunities for persons with disabilities are promoted in the open labour market.

Article 4. The Committee asks the Government to indicate any measures adopted to ensure equality of opportunity and treatment for disabled men and women workers. Please indicate any special positive measures aimed at effective equality of opportunity and treatment between workers with disabilities, whether men or women, and other workers.

Article 5. The Committee notes that the Higher Council on Disability Issues was established by Part 4 of Act No. 49 and includes representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities and of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Kuwait. It asks the Government to describe the functioning in practice of the Higher Council and to indicate how the representatives of workers’ organizations are included in the consultations required by the Convention.

Article 7. The Committee asks the Government to describe more fully the measures taken to adapt existing services to accommodate people with disabilities in order to enable them to secure, retain and advance in employment.

Article 9. Please provide further information on the measures taken to ensure that rehabilitation counsellors and other staff are suitably qualified.

Part V of the report form. The Government is asked to 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.