The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has officially amended its regulations to permit civil service employees to wear face veils (niqab) while working, marking a significant shift in uniform and appearance policies across government offices.
Previously, CSC regulations required that employees be visibly identifiable while providing services. However, the amendment published in the Government Gazette on September 14 now allows niqab-wearing employees to continue service delivery, provided they wear an identification card or tag that clearly displays their name and position when identification is necessary.
This change comes after a series of complaints from niqab-wearing civil servants, which initially led the Commission to instruct them to use ID tags. At the time, no formal policy change was made.
The regulation highlights that identification is particularly important for frontline roles such as receptionists. The policy ensures that transparency and accountability remain central to civil service delivery, even with the allowance for face coverings.
This regulatory change follows a similar move by the Maldivian judiciary, which recently updated its internal rules to permit employees to wear face veils while providing.