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Article 27 - Right
to work
Background Documents | Article
27 Background
Seventh Session | Sixth Session | Fourth
Session | Third Session
Working Group | References
Sixth Session
Draft article 22
95. There was general agreement in the Committee to take a rights-based
approach to this article. The Committee also noted that the text of the
Convention should not derogate from existing international instruments,
such as International Labour Organisation Conventions.
96. The Committee expressed a general preference for States to recognise
the importance of access by persons with disabilities to the open labour
market, in order to empower and enable them to participate fully in society.
General concern was expressed about the potential for exploitation of persons
with disabilities. The balance of views in the Committee on sheltered workshops
was that such settings were undesirable because of the potential for segregation
from the community and their conditions of employment. There was agreement
that there should be further consideration of this point.
97. The Committee noted that there was a degree of over-lap between this
Article and Articles 17, 19 and 21 bis (habilitation or rehabilitation for
the purposes of work).
Chapeau
98. There was general agreement that the chapeau should deal with general
principles, and that the sub-paragraphs should deal with measures to realise
those principles. With this in mind the Committee agreed to delete paragraph
(a), and incorporate its concept in the chapeau. There was also considerable
support for the idea that employment of persons by the public service should
be mentioned, because of the role the public sector should play in setting
an example to the private sector, and that this idea could be included in
the chapeau. This could allow the deletion of sub paragraph (i).
99. The chapeau now reads:
States Parties recognise the right of persons with disabilities to work,
[on an equal basis with others]; this includes the opportunity to gain a
living by work that they freely choose or accept in a labour market and
work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with
disabilities, [with a view to promoting equal opportunity and treatment
of persons with disabilities,] and protecting them from poverty. States
Parties [shall set an example of employment of persons with disabilities]
and take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realisation of this
right, including measures to:
Paragraph (c)
100. There was general support for dividing sub-paragraph (c) into two,
the first dealing with paid employment, and the second with self-employment.
101. Paragraph (c) now reads:
(c) promote [equal] employment opportunities and career advancement for
persons with disabilities in the open labour market, as well as assistance
in finding, obtaining and maintaining [and returning to] employment;
(cbis) promote opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship and starting
one's own business
Paragraph (d)
102. There was no agreement on the issue of quotas in paragraph (d). There
did appear, however, to be support for using instead some less specific
language on affirmative action or special measures.
103. Paragraph (d) now reads:
(d) encourage employers to hire persons with disabilities, such as through
affirmative action programmes, incentives [and other appropriate policies,
support and special measures];
Paragraph (e)
104. There was general support to amend the text of paragraph (e) so that
it now reads:
(e) ensure that reasonable accommodation is provided to person with disabilities
in the workplace;
Paragraph (f)
105. Some delegations proposed that this paragraph could be deleted, while
others supported its retention.
Paragraph (g)
106. The Committee noted the possibility that paragraph (g) could either
be merged with paragraph (c) or deleted and covered under proposed draft
article 21 bis.
Paragraph (h)
107. There was support for including references to conditions of hiring
or recruitment and for safe and healthy working conditions in paragraph
(h). In view of its importance, there was also firm support for the placement
of this paragraph immediately under the chapeau as a new sub-paragraph (a).
108. Paragraph (h), now paragraph (a), currently reads:
(a) protect through legislation persons with disabilities with regard to
conditions of recruitment, hiring and employment, continuance of employment,
career advancement, working conditions, including equal remuneration for
work of equal value and equal opportunities, safe and healthy working conditions,
and the redressing of grievances, and to ensure that persons with disabilities
are able to exercise their labour and trade union rights.
Paragraph (j)
109. There was general support for deleting paragraph (j) and to consider
the first part of it under draft article 5.
110. The draft article was referred to the facilitator (Dan Oren, Israel)
for further discussion.