Stronger budget support called for people with developmental challenges
Prime Minister G.Zandanshatar delivered a keynote address at the “Implementation of the Rights of Persons with Developmental Challenges and the State Budget” Forum. In his remarks, the prime minister urged a shift from outdated, one-size-fits-all standards to a more inclusive, capability-based approach that better reflects the needs and strengths of individuals with developmental challenges.
Highlighting the disconnect between policies on paper and realities on the ground, the prime minister called for a comprehensive response involving three key levers: budgetary allocations, legal reforms, and effective governance. He emphasized that the government’s policy efforts will focus on creating an inclusive living environment, boosting employment opportunities, and enhancing accessibility and participation in society.
As part of this commitment, the government plans to upgrade living environments to meet inclusive standards, provide financial support for employer training, workplace adaptation, and guidance services as bundled packages, and integrate inclusive procurement criteria, encouraging the purchase of goods produced by persons with developmental challenges.
Organizations that actively support inclusive employment and provide adapted workplaces will receive tangible government incentives. Furthermore, infrastructure accessibility will also be prioritized, with investments in roads, public spaces, transportation systems, and digital platforms aligned to meet the needs of persons with developmental challenges. Norms and standards for publicly funded buildings and services will be revised, and state procurement rules will include provisions for accessibility compliance. Additionally, tax policies will be adjusted to offer targeted support and address systemic barriers.
As Chair of the National Council for Children, G.Zandanshatar also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening early intervention. He announced that the Children’s Fund will be equipped with modern tools for early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of developmental delays, including visual, auditory, and motor impairments.
The premier concluded his speech by advocating for a human-centered, minimally interventionist government approach that prioritizes individual rights in the national budget framework. “We must recognize and support the diverse abilities of every citizen,” he said, calling for policies that empower rather than limit. The forum brought together policymakers, advocacy groups, and civil society representatives committed to shaping a more inclusive Mongolia.
There has some notable progress been made over the past two decades in promoting the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. However, significant gaps remain between legislation, policy intentions, and on-the-ground implementation. Persons with disabilities face high unemployment rates and often lack access to meaningful work opportunities. While employers are encouraged through policy and now, under Prime Minister G.Zandanshatar’s recent announcements, through financial incentives to hire and accommodate workers with disabilities, stigma and practical barriers persist. As of 2024, Mongolia has approximately 115,000 individuals living with various degrees of disability, representing about 3.2 to 3.3 percent of the total population. Only 16  percent of working-age persons with disabilities are employed, compared with 56.7  percent of the general population, according to the United Nations Development Programme, calling for absolute need to promote employment. Households with at least one person with a disability face significantly greater poverty. As of 2019, poverty incidence in such households was more than double that of households without disabilities.

Published Date:2025-08-17