The Dubai Ruler on Monday issued two decrees to protect the rights of workers who are disabled or have special needs.
The move is expected to improve access to equal employment and includes the adoption of an Emirati sign language dictionary to facilitate communication with people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Mohammed bin Rashid's decrees stressed that disabled people and those with special needs have a right to work, just like everyone, else with no prejudice and in suitable working conditions.
The private sector was urged to employ more disabled people, to use transparent hiring practices, unbiased selection processes and clearly define job roles.
The decision stressed that people could not to be terminated nor forced to retire because of their disability, or if they sustained the disability after they were hired.
The UAE's first sign language dictionary includes 5,000 words and 21 chapters that include numbers, education, nation states and units of measurement.
It will be available online, through a smartphone application and on CD.
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