MPs are seeking better care, rehabilitation and employment of people with disabilities after they approved a proposal yesterday calling on the Supreme Committee for the Care of Persons with Disabilities to co-ordinate with the Labour and Social Development ministries.
The committee will be tasked with enforcing Article (11) of the Law on the Care, Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities.
Legislators said that the current mechanism for employing people with disabilities suffers from delays, a lack of unified data systems and inconsistent co-ordination between government entities.
“We cannot allow fragmented procedures to stand between people with disabilities and their right to employment,” said Mohsin Al Asbool, who spearheaded the proposal which was referred to the Cabinet for immediate review. “Activating the Supreme Committee is essential to ensure that the law is implemented in full,” he added.
The MP argued that Article (11), which obligates private sector institutions to employ at least two per cent of their workforce from among qualified persons with disabilities, is not being enforced effectively.
“Without real co-ordination between the Social Development Ministry – responsible for classification and qualification – and the Labour Ministry – responsible for monitoring compliance – the law will remain in theory.”
The proposal was presented by five MPs, led by Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman Khalid Bu Onk.
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