President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has emphasized the importance of setting a minimum wage in order to increase the number of employed Maldivians.
In his remark on the occasion of International Labor Day, the President assured that the government is working with relevant authorities to establish a minimum wage through the legal framework. The efforts of the government will become expedited once the newly elected 19th Parliament commences, said the President.
Sending the greeting of Labor Day to all workers, President Solih said the purpose of marking an international labor day is to acknowledge and appreciate the work done by laborers, and ensuring that the basic rights and freedoms are assured for workers, and defending their rights.
Noting the contribution of Maldivian workers toward the country’s development, President Solih described the efforts of workers as a national service, stating that the progress in the country’s economy is the direct result of the hard work done by the workers.
Acknowledging that several rights of employees are ignored in many workplaces, the President stated it is a fact that discrimination among staff, threatening employees and wrongful terminations, all of which are in violation of the Maldivian constitution and the Employment Act still continue to occur.
The President further noted that some foreign employees are subjected to inhumane living conditions, and their wages are not given regularly. While these are huge concerns, issues such as overworking employees and taking advantage of them through manipulation and trickery need to be addressed immediately, said President Solih.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
