Ammon News - Disabled persons will no longer be classified "unfit" in reports issued by government-mandated medical committees which examine the prospective employment and job applications of disabled persons, according to an announcement by the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD) and the Ministry of Health on Sunday.

The move enforces Clause B of Article 5 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law No. 20 of 2017, which states the following: "In itself, disability shall not prevent a person from being considered healthy and fit for work, education, qualification and the exercise of all the rights and freedoms established in accordance with the provisions of this law or any other legislation as long as they fulfill the necessary conditions."

It is also consistent with the provisions of Article 45 of the Civil Service Bylaw, which requires employers to provide the necessary accommodations to enable an employee with a disability to carry out his/her job duties according to a technical report issued by the Equal Opportunities Committee in the HCD.

For decades, "unfit" was the final say in employment reports issued by the medical committees in accordance with the 1977 Medical Committees bylaw and its amendments. Any "unfit"-related provisions in this bylaw shall be deemed null and void under the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disability Law that takes precedence over the bylaw and abrogates everything that conflicts with the principles and detailed therein.

HCD Secretary-General Muhannad Al-Azza, said that this step "would end a long era of exclusion and discrimination enshrined in the provisions of the medical committees bylaw over a period of 44 years without any justification or logical rationale."

He added that the criteria for the so-called "ability to work" are now governed by arrangements, facilities, assistive technology and a culture of acceptance of others rather than the physical or psychological state of the person.