Labor Ministry Allocates Portion of Loans to Support People with Disabilities
The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs announced the approval of the ministry's advisory board to allocate 5% of the loan fund for people with disabilities, emphasizing that implementation depends on completing the necessary procedures and securing financial allocations within the 2027 budget. Kazem Al-Atwani, Director General of the Media and Arab and International Relations Department, explained that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs Authority works to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities and improve their quality of life by monitoring the file of the full-time appointed salary, striving to sustain and increase it, as well as coordinating to expand employment opportunities, inclusive education, health insurance services, rehabilitation, and infrastructure preparation. Al-Atwani pointed out that the authority focuses its efforts on translating legal rights into tangible services that preserve the dignity of beneficiaries and enhance their independence. Regarding employment opportunities, he clarified that the authority coordinates and follows up with the Federal Public Service Council and relevant bodies to activate the legal employment quota of 5% in the government sector, according to Article (16/First) of the amended Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, in addition to following up on job seekers' applications and completing their data through the (Empowerment and Employment) platform, contributing to enhancing their chances of employment and achieving economic independence. He noted that the authority began employment procedures since the issuance of Law No. (13) of 2013, with a total of 2,792 employed. In terms of inclusive education, Al-Atwani confirmed that the authority coordinates with the Ministry of Education to monitor the application of inclusive education and overcome challenges faced by students with disabilities, working to provide a safe and suitable educational environment that meets their needs, while following up with concerned parties to expand enrollment opportunities in public schools to ensure the right of persons with disabilities to education and promote equal opportunities. Regarding support for private projects and concessional loans, he indicated that the authority works to enhance the economic independence of persons with disabilities through coordination and follow-up to provide training and financing opportunities. He concluded by stating that the proposal to allocate 5% of the Ministry of Labor’s loan fund for persons with disabilities received the advisory board’s approval, with its implementation linked to completing the necessary procedures and providing financial allocations within the 2027 budget, aiming to support productive projects and expand self-employment opportunities according to the amended Law No. (13) of 2013.
