Inclusion of persons with disabilities
ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations

Inclusion of persons with disabilities

One out of every six people in the world—or some 1 billion people—has a disability. Between 785 and 975 million of them are estimated to be of working age , but most do not work. While many are successfully employed and fully integrated into society, as a group, persons with disabilities often face disproportionate poverty and unemployment.

Decent work is the ILO's primary goal for everyone, including persons with disabilities. The ILO has worked for over 50 years to promote skills development and employment opportunities for people with disabilities based on the principles of equal opportunity, equal treatment, mainstreaming into vocational rehabilitation and employment services programmes and community involvement. The principle of non-discrimination is increasingly emphasized as disability issues have come to be seen as human rights issues. The ILO works to achieve this goal through promoting labour standards, advocacy, knowledge-building on the training and employment of people with disabilities and technical cooperation services and partnerships, both within the ILO and externally. A strategy of including consideration of persons with disabilities in the training and employment promotion policies and programmes of the ILO and of constituents is currently being developed.

What's New

  1. Promoting training and employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities: International experience
    10 November 2011

    This Working Paper provides an international overview of employment options for people with intellectual disabilities, with special emphasis on Supported Employment (SE) models.
     

  2. Achieving equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities through legislation (online guide)
    1 September 2011

    This resource guide will help educators and trainers equip policymakers, legislators, social partners, individuals with disabilities and other key individuals to achieve a positive legislative impact.

  3. Moving towards disability inclusion
    12 August 2011

    This publication provides insights into how disability perspectives may be incorporated into policies, laws, services and programmes, and the essential elements for sustainable and inclusive growth of societies.

  4. Disability in the Workplace: Company Practices
    24 January 2011

  5. The price of exclusion: Executive Summary of the economic consequences of excluding people with disabilities from the world of work
    30 November 2010

    Employment Working Paper No. 43

  6. Abuja Conference launches new guidelines aimed at empowering millions of Africans with disabilities
    27 October 2010 to 29 October 2010 - Abuja, Nigeria

    The 4th CBR Africa Network Conference (CAN) launched new guidelines designed to empower persons with disabilities by supporting their inclusion in health, education, employment, social, skills training and other community services.

  7. Opening Pathways to Training and Employment for People with Intellectual Disabilities
    15 October 2010

    People with intellectual disabilities represent nearly two per cent of the world's population, or some 130 million people. Because of stigma and discrimination, a majority are excluded from education, training and employment. This film examines what is possible for persons with intellectual disabilities so that they are able to access opportunities to obtain decent work and a better life.

Key Resources

  1. R99 Vocational Rehabilitation (Disabled) Recommendation, 1955
    22 June 1955

    Recommendation concerning Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled

  2. C159 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983
    20 June 1983

    Convention concerning Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons)
    (Note: Date of coming into force: 06/20/1985.)

  3. Managing disability in the workplace : ILO code of practice
    13 February 2002

    This code has been drawn up to guide employers to adopt a positive strategy in managing disability related issues in the workplace. It is intended to be read in the context of national conditions and to be applied in accordance with national law and practice.

  4. C111 Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958
    25 June 1958

    Convention concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation
    (Note: Date of coming into force: 06/15/1960.)

  5. R168 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Recommendation, 1983
    20 June 1983

    RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT (DISABLED PERSONS)

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