1 Convention Text
1.1 States Parties recognise the right of persons with disabilities to work, on
an equal basis with others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a
living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment
that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. States
Parties shall safeguard and promote the realisation of the right to work,
including for those who acquire a disability during the course of employment, by
taking appropriate steps, including through legislation, to, inter alia:
(a) Prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all
matters concerning all forms of employment, including conditions of recruitment,
hiring and employment, continuance of employment, career advancement and safe
and healthy working conditions;
(b) Protect the rights of persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with
others, to just and favourable conditions of work, including equal opportunities
and equal remuneration for work of equal value, safe and healthy working
conditions, including protection from harassment, and the redress of grievances;
(c) Ensure that persons with disabilities are able to exercise their labour and
trade union rights on an equal basis with others;
(d) Enable persons with disabilities to have effective access to general
technical and vocational guidance programmes, placement services and vocational
and continuing training; R1
(e) Promote employment opportunities and career advancement for persons with
disabilities in the labour market, as well as assistance in finding, obtaining,
maintaining and returning to employment; R2
(f) Promote opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, the development
of cooperatives and starting one’s own business;
(g) Employ persons with disabilities in the public sector;
(h) Promote the employment of persons with disabilities in the private sector
through appropriate policies and measures, which may include affirmative action
programmes, incentives and other measures; R3
(i) Ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to persons with
disabilities in the workplace; R4
(j) Promote the acquisition by persons with disabilities of work experience in
the open labour market;
(k) Promote vocational and professional rehabilitation, job retention and
return-to-work programmes for persons with disabilities. R5
2 Declaration of Needs and Characteristics
2.1 Blind and partially-sighted people are able to work successfully in a wide
range of industrial, commercial, managerial and professional jobs when
appropriate adapted or special equipment and personal assistance such as
readers' services are made available.
2.2 Employers often do not appreciate the extent to which blind and
partially-sighted people are able to work as effectively as normally-sighted
colleagues. Action is needed to promote the employment capabilities of blind and
partially-sighted people.
2.3 The proportion of blind and partially-sighted people following further and
higher education courses and acquiring professional or academic qualifications
commensurate with their abilities is significantly lower than the population as
a whole. Effective, practical support and encouragement is needed to combat low
self esteem and lack of confidence.
2.4 Blind and partially-sighted people need rehabilitation, vocational training,
vocational guidance and placement services that have staff with the knowledge,
skills, experience, as well as the facilities and resources to meet their
specific needs, thereby ensuring that those who wish to find employment have the
opportunity to do so.
2.5 Blind and partially-sighted people often find that statutory income support
is not structured to provide the financial incentive required to accept the
relatively low paid jobs that are available to them.
2.6 People who lose their sight when already in employment need support, advice
and information about the practicality of continuing to hold their present post
and the availability of rehabilitation and training.
2.7 Blind and partially-sighted people who are permanently employed require
leave of absence to follow courses of rehabilitation and vocational training
prior to returning to work with their previous employers.
2.8 Some blind and partially-sighted people of working age have other
significant disabilities that adversely affect their ability to find a job. They
need the opportunity to work in both supported employment in the open labour
market and in sheltered workshops that have conditions of employment that are
comparable with the open labour market.
2.9 The nature of work is rapidly changing. Blind and partially-sighted people
therefore need access to new employment opportunities that have been researched
and developed, so that employment in new fields is established as the
availability of more traditional jobs diminishes.
2.10 The principles of universal design must be applied to equipment and
machines used in all workplaces to ensure its safe and effective operation by
blind and partially-sighted people.
3 Important Aspects of Convention Text
3.1 Convention text - R1 (d) Enable persons with disabilities to have effective
access to general technical and vocational guidance programmes, placement
services and vocational and continuing training.
3.2 Requirement - Governments should provide or support vocational training,
vocational guidance and placement services that have staff with professional
training and experience in the employment of blind and partially-sighted people.
3.3 Requirement - Governments should provide funding to enable blind and
partially-sighted people to follow vocational training, including training
courses designed specifically for blind and partially-sighted people. Support
for individuals should include income support, the cost of training, provision
of special equipment, cost of reader services, adaptations to training and work
stations and cost of travel.
3.4 Requirement - Governments should provide or support induction training for
blind and partially-sighted people in the workplace when starting a new job or
when promotion or job changes occur.
3.5 Convention text - R2 (e) Promote employment opportunities and career
advancement for persons with disabilities in the labour market, as well as
assistance in finding, obtaining, maintaining and returning to employment.
3.6 Requirement - Governments must promote the employment of blind and
partially-sighted people in open and supported employment.
3.7 Convention text - R3 (h) Promote the employment of persons with disabilities
in the private sector through appropriate policies and measures, which may
include affirmative action programmes, incentives and other measures.
3.8 Requirement - Governments should make provision for and fund supported
employment schemes that have the capacity to assist blind and partially-sighted
people find and keep work.
3.9 Requirement - Governmental support for sheltered workshops that provide
employment suitable for blind and partially-sighted people who have a range of
additional disabilities is necessary.
3.10 Requirement - Governments should fund the continuing research and
development of new employment opportunities for blind and partially-sighted
people, coupled with support for blind and partially-sighted people to find and
keep jobs in newly identified areas.
3.11 Convention text - R4 (i) Ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided
to persons with disabilities in the workplace.
3.12 Requirement - Statutory funding is required for special equipment, personal
assistants, adaptations to workplace and transcription services for blind and
partially-sighted people in open and supported employment.
3.13 Convention text - R5 (k) Promote vocational and professional
rehabilitation, job retention and return-to-work programmes for persons with
disabilities.
3.14 Requirement - Employers should be required to provide leave of absence for
blind and partially-sighted people at time of sight loss whilst they follow
vocational rehabilitation courses and any subsequent vocational training and
ensure that they have the option of re-employment in their previous job or one
of comparable status and salary.
3.15 Requirement - Governments should support the provision of vocational
rehabilitation courses designed and maintained specifically to meet the needs of
people who have experienced substantial visual loss.
TA
18/12/07