The Ministry of Social and Family Development hosted a validation workshop on Thursday, focusing on proposed new standards governing the employment of persons with disabilities in the Maldives.

According to the Ministry, the session aimed to review and gather feedback on these standards, which have been developed under regulations designed to enhance job opportunities and promote inclusive hiring practices.

Key stakeholders participated in the discussions, including representatives from various employers, disability advocacy organisations, and the Disability Council.

The proposed standards under review cover four main areas: employer responsibilities, procedures for advertising job opportunities, candidate selection processes, and the communication requirements for vacancy announcements.

Ministry officials stated that implementing these standards is expected to significantly increase employment prospects for persons with disabilities and foster more inclusive workplaces across the Maldives. They also expressed confidence that the guidelines will help reduce employment barriers and strengthen the protection of rights for persons with disabilities in the job market.