Adhaalath welcomes new dress code as MDP condemns restrictions on women

The opposition coalition partner Adhaalath Party has expressed support for the Civil Service Commission’s newly amended dress code for civil service employees.

The amendments, gazetted last Tuesday, have sparked public debate over the stricter requirements introduced for both male and female staff.

Key changes include:

• Male employees must wear long‑ or short‑sleeved shirts with ties during official hours  

• Male employees must wear office shoes during official work  

• Women’s tops, shirts and suit jackets must be long enough to ensure no part of the midriff is exposed, even when raising the arms  

• Women’s clothing must extend at least two inches below the bottom of the hips  

• Fabric used for office attire must be appropriate for a professional environment  

• Women are prohibited from dyeing or highlighting their hair in noticeable colours, except for black  

In a statement, the Adhaalath Party described the amendments as positive and “a good step for the religious and social security of society.”

“Positive changes that are not the most perfect but close to the best practice should be welcomed and encouraged by all,” the statement said.

The party said Islam provides comprehensive guidance for all aspects of life, including dress, which it described as a core component of Islamic education and morality. It emphasised that the purpose of dress in Islam goes beyond adornment, serving to protect modesty, dignity and chastity.

The statement added that Islamic standards require clothing that is not tight enough to reveal body shape and not thin enough to expose what is underneath.

“Covering the nudity is a commandment of Allah. To disobey it is to disobey a commandment revealed by Him. Therefore, it is not a choice for any believing man or woman,” the party said, adding that both men and women should dress modestly in public.

The main opposition MDP has strongly criticised the amendments. In a statement, the party’s women’s branch said the changes interfere with the personal freedoms of women working in the civil service.

MDP President Abdulla Shahid accused the government of attempting to control women’s private lives, while former President Mohamed Nasheed said the state should not interfere in women’s personal choices under the pretext of regulating adornment.