The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has implemented enhanced leave benefits for family medical crises and new regulations regarding employment termination as part of the thirteenth amendment to the Civil Service Regulations.

The modifications took effect on Monday, representing a major overhaul in the Maldives' public sector employment system.

With the amendment, civil servants are eligible for up to 30 days of paid leave each year to care for relatives undergoing treatment for chronic diseases or receiving bone marrow or organ donations.

The leave will be provided with a complete basic salary, understood as the pay for the employee's assigned position.

Eligibility encompasses a specified group of relatives, such as parents, spouses, children, full siblings, half-siblings (either maternal or paternal), and those for whom the employee holds a legal responsibility of care.

Employees need to provide a medical certificate that specifies the illness and the anticipated duration of the treatment to access the entitlement.

Certificates need to be provided by a healthcare professional enrolled with the Ministry of Health or by a practitioner connected to a respected international medical organization.

The CSC will make the final determination of approval according to procedural requirements.

The amendment additionally includes clauses for employment termination due to medical reasons.

Civil servants can be terminated if officially considered permanently or for a long duration unable to fulfill their responsibilities.

These decisions need to be backed by an official medical certificate provided by a licensed healthcare provider and endorsed by the appropriate institution.

The reforms seek to enhance support systems for workers dealing with family health emergencies, as well as to clarify the processes for managing prolonged disabilities in the civil service.