MTUC Voices Injustice Against Employees with Continued Delays and Revisions in Announcing ‘Minimum Wage’ Limits

The laws of the Maldives were rectified in 2008 to mandate the government to decide a national limit for Minimum Wage that employees to receive at their workplace. The main aim of this was to ensure that employees across all sectors receive a fair wage that would allow them to support their everyday needs and take responsibility whilst eradicating poverty. The empowerment will also be an importance step towards providing economic security for the working sector.  
 
The Maldives Trade Union Commission has raised the questions to the government as to why the decision has not been made until now. In 2019, technical research was conducted by the then-formed Salary and Commission Advisory Board in collaboration with the International Labor Organization and a minimum wage was proposed to the government.  
 
However, MTUC suspects that the amendments brought to the laws directing the work to be repeated by a newly formed board is purposefully delaying the process. According to MTUC, this is injustice to employees and their families. Another major concern addressed on behalf of the civil servants and workers is the ongoing discussions to include the ‘in-kind’ allowances and service charges in the minimum wage figure. This will be a great takeaway from the additional complements to the basic salary of workers in many different sectors that contribute to a huge proportion of the full salary.  
 
In this regard, MTUC has called upon the relevant authorities and the government to conclude the process in a manner that will help achieve its full purpose of empowering employees with a fair value of minimum wage.