Maldives Economic Minister Mohamed Saeed has met with the heads of dockworker groups active at Male' commercial harbor over recent turn of events relating to cargo clearance timings shifted exclusively to night time.
Economic Ministry has confirmed that along with minister Saeed Maldives Ports Limited's (MPL) chief executive officer Abdul Razzaq Haleem had attended the meeting to meet the dockworker representatives on Wednesday.
The ministry's official Twitter handle had briefly explained the nature of the meeting between consignees, dockworkers and minister Saeed.
The tweet read that minister Saeed was "meeting with major consignees regarding the difficulties and challenges facing them after the changes brought to transportation of goods within Male’ City."
To counter the dockworker groups' recent challenge to increase wages - which in turn would have direct effect to goods prices spiking - economic minister Saeed had urged that the government would not entertain any such attempts that may undermine the forefront of local logistics as well as possibilities of price hikes.
Minister Saeed had challenged the dockworkers' harsh sentiments stating that the ministry was willing to provide more worker groups the opportunity of employment at commercial harbors. He also added that the flexibility of dispatching employees as clearance officers from private companies would be further facilitated compared the current situation.
He also warned that should the dockworkers fail to comply to government's recommendation the Maldives state may be provoked to enact a state-owned logistics company to provide the services to consignees and importers at affordable prices.
Recently Maldives transport authority had ordered changes to cargo clearance and transportation hours, limiting the window from 18:00hrs till 06:00hrs in a bid to reduce traffic congestion in the capital.
