The Ministry of Labor and Social Development (MLSD) calls on mega and large enterprises to submit disability-friendly working environment certification no later than December 20, 2017.
The ministry warned of reducing the calculation of person with disability to two Saudis instead of four in the Nitaqat program if the firm fails to submit the document. After one year, the disabled worker will be counted as one worker if the firm continues to neglect the request.
MLSD spokesman Khaled Abalkhail said the move comes within the Nitaqat program aiming to motivate the large and mega enterprises to nationalize the jobs by urging them to earn the disability-friendly environment certification from MLSD-approved entities.
Such certification states that the nature of job and assigned tasks fit with the type of worker’s disability, as well as following the accessibility standards as per the labor regulations, Abalkhail added further.
According to Article 10 of the executive by-laws pertaining to Article 28 of the labor law, the ministry identifies the PWD as each person who proves his/her disability through presenting a medical report issued from the Ministry of Health or public hospitals, or carrying an identity card issued from the MLSD. Also, these reports must state s/he has one permanent disability or more.
Moreover, the disabilities may include visual impairment, hearing impairment, mental retardation, physical impairment, learning disabilities, speech and language disorders, emotional and behavioral disorders, autism or any form of disability that needs certain arrangement and assistive services.
By issuing such provision, the ministry strives to ensure the rights of PwD at workplace as employers have duties to provide decent work for job seekers and workers with disabilities, alike.
It is in a bid to empower them to take part in in the labor market and move them from being dependents to productive individuals, taking into account the social factors that surround them and their families.