The government has paid a total of MVR 6.8 million in compensation to 19 people who were unfairly dismissed from their jobs by the government of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath has said.
The Attorney General was asked regarding the government's policies in giving compensation by a sub-committee of the Parliament's Finance Committee.
After taking office, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih formed a special settlement committee to address the grievances of those who required compensation from the government. President Solih instructed the relevant authorities to investigate and decide on the cases fairly.
Sharing information on the cases submitted to the committee, the Attorney General said 37 cases were submitted to the committee. The largest number of cases were filed for unfair dismissal, and MVR 6.8 million has been paid as compensation for such cases thus far.
Cases in which compensation has been paid for unfair dismissal:
- Dismissal of two Presidential appointees to the Employment Tribunal
- Dismissal of a member of the Tax Appeal Tribunal
- Dismissal of seven police officers
- Dismissal of three MNDF officers
- Dismissal of five employees from Kaadedhdhoo Airport
- Dismissal of a Maldives Corrections employee
Riffath said that in some cases, compensation was paid after legal action was sought. While in some cases, the court ordered the compensation to be paid, Riffath said some cases were settled out of court as the court's decision may cause a more extensive loss to the government.
The Attorney General further said the government gives compensation in the case where a state agency is found to have been negligent or acted wrongfully. Therefore, authorities have been instructed to take administrative action in such cases and report the cases to the police for criminal investigation. There are such cases already pending in the courts, he said.
