Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) - Italy (Ratification: 2000)

Articles 1, 2, 3 and 7 of the Convention. Vocational rehabilitation and employment policies for persons with disabilities. The Government refers in its report to the impact of legislative measures on the employment of persons with disabilities. In this regard, it refers to Law Decree No. 101 of 31 August 2013, which calls for public administrations to re-determine the number of persons with disabilities hired on a compulsory basis, taking into account the quota system and criteria of calculation envisaged by the legislation in force. The Committee notes that each administration will proceed to hire additional persons with disabilities under contracts of employment of an indefinite duration if they fall below the revised quota. Concerning the national policies aimed at promoting the employment of persons with disabilities, the Government provides in its report information on the financial incentives granted to private employers who hire persons with disabilities. These incentives are financed through the Fund for the right to work of persons with disabilities with resources allocated by the Ministry of Labour to the regions. With regard to the allocation of resources of the Fund, the Committee notes the figures provided for 2012 and 2013 and notes that resources tend to be concentrated in the northern regions of the country. Moreover, the Committee noted in its previous observation that, as a result of the implementation of Act No. 68/99 on the right to work of persons with disabilities, 22,360 persons were placed in jobs in 2010 and 22,023 in 2011. The figures for both years were in fact higher than the historic low at that time in 2009 with 20,830 placements. The Committee notes from the data provided by the Government that the number of job placements decreased in 2012 and 2013 with, respectively, 19,114 and 18,295 persons with disabilities placed in employment. It also notes from the statistics provided the continuing disparity between the country’s regions with respect to registration and job placements. Concerning reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities, the Committee previously noted that legislative changes provided that employers in the public and private sectors were required to take appropriate steps to ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided in the workplace, as defined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to ensure equality of persons with disabilities with other workers. The Government indicates in its report that public employers must provide for such accommodation by making use of the human, financial and material resources available under the current legislation. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the national policy on vocational rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities in the different regions of the country, and on the impact of the legislative changes made to the quota system. It also requests the Government to indicate how measures taken are periodically reviewed, in consultation with the social partners, so as to enable persons with disabilities to secure, retain and advance in employment. Please also provide further information on the activities of the National Observatory on the Condition of Persons with Disabilities and on reasonable accommodation in the workplace.