A landmark event, the Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, issued two decrees supporting employees with disabilities. The first decree is to give equal employment rights/opportunities in the labor market in Dubai.
Disabled employees may not be terminated nor forced to retire, especially if they sustained the disability after they were hired. They should retire when they are of the age or when they are deemed as unfit for work by a medical committee.
Hiring practices should be transparent and conducted with utmost care to ensure that prejudicial or biased perceptions of such persons’ abilities doesn’t affect the outcome of the interview. The employee shall be given ample opportunity for promotions, as well as given proper support in attending and presenting at conferences, workshops and events.
The private sector is urged to employ disabled persons into their establishments and providing the proper working environment to enable them to work. In this respect, the Ministry of Community Development will be cooperating with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and the Federal Human Resources Authority to determine the reasonable measures which can be undertaken in providing proper work environments for such employees.
The decree also supports those who wish to establish their own business.
The second decree is regarding the adoption of an Emirati sign language lexicon for the hearing impaired. The Emirati sign language lexicon will contain 21 chapters, including the alphabet, numbers, official documents, tourist attractions, ministries, institutions, authorities, clothes, accessories, folk dishes, family, common actions, descriptions, states, directions, manner, colors, the home and its accessories, titles, professions, education, units of measurement, health, oceans, environments, animals, plants, and sports.
