The quota system for government job for people with disabilities will remain unchanged, says Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam.

The cabinet secretary’s remarks came on Monday (Jan 21) after the first cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the capital.

Responding to a query following the meeting Alam said, “The quota in the law has remained unchanged. Our administrative orders cannot supersede the law.”

Asked on the quota for disabilities the cabinet secretary said, “The quota is as it was before.”

Until last year 56 percent of government jobs were reserved under various quotas. Children of Liberation War fighters had 30 percent, women 10 percent, ‘backward districts’ 10 percent, minorities 5 percent and people with disabilities 1 percent.

The government formed a committee led by the cabinet secretary to revise the quota after massive protests from students and job seekers.

The cabinet approved a list of recommendations from the committee that would remove quotas from first and second class government jobs.

The cabinet approved a national action plan on disabilities on Monday based on the ‘Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act 2013’ and the ‘Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2015.