Civil Service Commission (CSC) has amended the Civil Service Regulations of the Maldives to enforce the allocation of certain civil service positions to persons with disabilities.
CSC stated the regulations were amended as part of efforts to increase the opportunities for disabled persons in the Maldives and remove the obstacles faced by them in the employment market. CSC said under the amended regulations, certain civil service positions will be allocated especially for disabled persons. The allocation of positions will be carried out under a special guideline formed by CSC.
Furthermore, the amended regulations also include the criteria to classify an individual as a disabled person. The regulations describe disabled persons as individuals suffering from a disability caused by a permanent illness or individuals seeking long-term treatment for a disease caused by a non-reversible pathological alteration.
The amended regulations also include special exemptions in granting leaves for disabled civil service employees. As such, the regulation allows 60 days of paid leave to be granted as a special medical leave for disabled employees. An additional 30 days have also been granted to the 30-day sick leave quota granted to disabled employees every year. They are also allowed to take 15 sick leaves per year without submitting a medical certificate.