Three countries discuss Disability Inclusion

The participants visited OOO “Sochivodokanal”, where deaf employees showed their skills on landscaping the company’s vast terrain.

Participants were the Ministries of Labour, Ministries of Social Development, Trade Unions and Employers’ Organisations of Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as representatives of Rostrud and Krasnodarsky Krai Administration. The workshop presented an opportunity for the constituents to share good practices, and to define priorities in an atmosphere of mutual understanding.


Some progress has been made in the area of Disability Inclusion in the sub-region, also for disabled children, said Mr. Himatsho Muzafarov, Head of Labour Market and Employment Department of Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment of Population of Republic of Tajikistan. Today more and more children with disabilities attend regular kindergartens6 he said.

The Workshop focused on a number of issues related to employment and vocational training for persons with disabilities, such as opportunities of job-placing, role of social partners and legislation provisions. In conclusion of the workshop, the constituents from Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan presented a plan of action to address issues related to people with disabilities.

The final day of the event included study visits to work-places in Sochi that have been specifically adjusted to the needs of workers with disabilities. The participants had a guided tour at the Sochi Art Museum by one of the museum guides. Being visually impaired; thanks to the workplace adaptation, he is now able to adequately perform his work. A further visit brought the participants to OOO “Sochivodokanal”, where jobs have been created for workers with disabilities. Deaf employees showed their skills on landscaping the company’s vast terrain. Communication with the employees was performed using sign language.

The workshop was the first event in a chain of planned interventions, where the next step will be to make a situational analysis in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan during late spring and summer, the results to be presented in Bishkek in September/October of this year. The analysis is planned to be a starting point for further discussions of the constituents on disability inclusion.