President Pledges Nationwide Programme to Tackle Workplace Barriers for Disabled Citizens
- President Muizzu pledged a comprehensive national initiative next year to dismantle employment barriers and expand inclusion for persons with disabilities.
- A participant on PSM's Rayyithunge Adu highlighted limited support centres and repeated job rejections from state enterprises like MACL.
- NSPA records show 15,885 registered persons with disabilities, with disability allowance spending reaching MVR 59 million in September last year.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has pledged to introduce a comprehensive national initiative next year to dismantle employment barriers and expand societal inclusion for persons with disabilities across the Maldives.
President Muizzu delivered the commitment during the latest broadcast of Rayyithunge Adu (Voice of the People), a weekly public engagement programme aired by state broadcaster Public Service Media (PSM).
During the broadcast, a participant living with disabilities highlighted acute systemic hurdles confronting qualified applicants. The speaker pointed out that specialised support facilities remain heavily constrained by space, with few dedicated centres operating across the atolls. He further noted that higher-educated individuals frequently encounter outright rejection or persistent silence from prospective employers, citing unsuccessful attempts to secure internships and entry-level positions at state-owned enterprises such as Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL).
In response, President Muizzu affirmed that his administration prioritises equal access to the labour market and intends to deliver practical solutions in the coming weeks.
“Already, I have asked all MPs and I have also asked ministers to ensure that opportunities for people with disabilities are made available to the best of their ability and that a conducive environment is applied,” the President stated.
The planned national project, scheduled for rollout next year, aims to guarantee unimpeded access to public services and establish formal pathways into both the civil service and state enterprises.
The initiative coincides with a growing caseload managed by social welfare authorities. Official figures from the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) indicate that 15,885 individuals currently hold registration as persons with disabilities, following 263 new registrations last month. State records further show that government expenditure on direct disability allowances reached MVR 59 million in September last year.
