Chapter 1. Focus on Physical Environment

Haiti:

Toolkit for Long-Term

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Reconstruction for All

Recovery

A collaboration between GPDD WG on Haiti and IDB

Chapter 2 Livelihood, Employment and Social Protection

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• Impact of the earthquake• How do we build back better?• How do we promote Livelihood, Employment

and Social Protection?• Take Action!• Further resources

Outline

Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

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Pre-Earthquake Facts

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

62 % claimed to have a job in 2008 (Haiti’s PRSP 2009).

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 66% (CIA 1995). industry: 9% (CIA 1995). services: 25% ( CIA 1995). Unemployment rate: widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than

two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (CIA 2007).

On the basis of the fall in the GDP resulting from the earthquake, it is estimated that there will be a loss of 8.5% in the number of jobs, particularly in the fields of commerce, tourism, transport, and communications (PDNA 2010, page 17).

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Human Impact of Earthquake

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

5An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

UN Photo Marco Dormino

The total absence of a formal system of social protection exposes the vulnerable populations to pronounced risks (PDNA 2010, page 16).

The Government of Haiti estimates that the earthquake caused 300,000 injuries. What is not detailed is if these injuries result in functional impairment (and if this is permanent or temporary).

(Haiti Mission Report, February 6-March 7, 2010, page 5)

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Human Impact of Earthquake

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

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To help the Government of Haiti meet its goals and obligations:

Haiti has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); Required to ensure that persons with disabilities can access their environment, transportation, public facilities and services, and information and communications technologies;

Disability is a cross-cutting issue in Haiti’s PRSP;

To meet key targets under Haiti’s Action Plan for Reconstruction and National Development.

BETTER? Why do we build back

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

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• Employment is crucial when combating poverty and when aiming at full inclusion of people with disabilities in society.

Their employment will contribute significantly to the sustainability of social protection and social security schemes. 

BETTER? Why do we build back

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

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An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

UN Photo / Sophia Paris

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Article 27

Work and employment

1. States Parties recognize 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 realization of the right to work, including for those who acquire a disability during the course of employment, by taking appropriate steps (…)

Convention on the Rights of Persons

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

with Disabilities

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Article 28

Adequate standard of living and social protection

1. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realization of this right without discrimination on the basis of disability.

2. States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to social protection and to the enjoyment of that right without discrimination on the basis of disability, and shall take appropriate steps to safeguard and promote the realization of this right, including measures (….)

Convention on the Rights of Persons

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

with Disabilities

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of the Child

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

Article 32 Child labour

The government should protect children from work that is dangerous or might harm their health or their education. While the Convention protects children from harmful and exploitative work, there is nothing in it that prohibits parents from expecting their children to help out at home in ways that are safe and appropriate to their age. If children help out in a family farm or business, the tasks they do be safe and suited to their level of development and comply with national labour laws. Children's work should not jeopardize any of their other rights, including the right to education, or the right to relaxation and play.

Convention on the Rights

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• Ensure that economic growth generates decent jobs, during and beyond the period of reconstruction, by adapting Haiti’s employment laws and standards on the basis of international standards and norms, particularly in terms of salary and decent working conditions, and health and safety at work (PDNA 2010, page 16).

Employment and Social Protection? How do we promote Livelihood,

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

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• Develop micro-credit systems suitable for the needs of the poorest people, especially women (PDNA 2010, page 16).

Employment ?How do we promote Livelihood and

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

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Availability of support represents an essential step in moving forward to employment:

In order to create an inclusive work environment, both employers and employees should receive the needed support.

On the side of employers, subsidies covering additional costs such as lost in production, adaptation of the work environment, training and retraining of staff and employees etc are urgently needed.

On the side of the employees, there is an obvious need for adaptation of and providing transportation, training, easy to read material on rights, obligations and any other documents they have to work with and understand, job coaching, paperwork support etc

BETTER? How do we build back

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

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Research - aiming at evidence based improvement : It is crucial to involve researchers. Data should be collected in order to

enable assessment of initiatives and approaches for open employment of people with disabilities. Benchmarking with other sectors and countries is only feasible when comparable data is available.

 With a particular focus on:

Measures aiming at unemployed people - this might have an impact on the number of disabled persons employed (generating more jobs for them),Correct implementation of models of best practice in countries where there is need for this,

International exchange of models of employment and data available

BETTER? How do we build back

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

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Involving people with disabilities in training, entrepreneurship and enterprises brings benefits to companies and entrepreneurs. For example, workers with disabilities are as productive and reliable as other workers and tend to have better attendance records, stay with employers longer and have fewer accidents at work. In addition, in living their day-to-day lives many people with disabilities develop transferable problem solving skills that are invaluable in the workplace.

and Employment?How do we promote Livelihood and

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Unemployment allowances for PWD without a job.

Pensions for destitute PWD, i.e. monthly social assistance cash benefits.

Different forms of insurance in cases of disability .

Protection?

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

How do we promote Social

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Promote the abilities rather than the disability of people; provide training opportunities for both staff and disable people themselves;

Actively engage employers and trade unions in the process; Change attitudes in society, also among people with a disability and their

families; Provide staff in disability agencies with the knowledge, skills, tools and

techniques to support people with a disability in achieving sustainable employment;

Stimulate the creation of own – business of people with disabilities, take measures an provide incentives the set up of social enterprises,

Take Action!

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

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• CBR and other community-based initiatives are a means of integrating PwD with their families, communities, and societies as people with the same rights as all other citizens. They allow disabled people to gain skills, to provide for themselves and their families and enjoy a higher standard of living;

• Skills Development through Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR)

A good practice guide, International Labour Organization

Take Action!

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

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Characteristic Be based on a thorough and realistic understanding of the localeconomy and the skills it requires. Involve relevant stakeholders in program design, managementand implementation. Stakeholders might include potentialemployers, training providers, government agencies and NGOs and DPOs Be focused on dignified work which enhances self-esteem andproduces a viable income. Be holistic - embrace all aspects of a disabled person’s life. Emphasize quality and avoid any assumption that disabled peopleshould be permitted to meet lower standards than non-disabledpeople. Offer skills training appropriate for the local economy.

Take Action!

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

22An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB

Woman entrepreneur with a disability Trader at work in Tigray region, Ethiopia (© ILO, 2003)

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• Provide core skills development training and/or feeder programs to those potential women entrepreneurs with disabilities who would benefit from a stepping stone to inclusion in mainstream activities.

Take Action!

An Initiative of the GPDD Working Group on Haiti and the IDB