Maldives Health Professionals Union Calls for Overtime Pay Reform

The Maldives Health Professionals Union (MHPU) has renewed its call for fair overtime pay for healthcare workers, emphasizing the need for compensation for hours worked beyond official duty hours. In a recent statement, MHPU highlighted the ongoing issue, noting that government health workers are not being adequately compensated for extra work, a violation of international treaties to which the Maldives is a party.

The new salary structure, introduced in May 2023, caps overtime pay at just 10% of a worker’s basic salary. Previously, workers were compensated for all additional hours worked. The union argues that this new framework does not align with the healthcare sector’s demands, where staff shortages lead to extended working hours.

MHPU points out that the current pay system contradicts the Employment Act, which mandates overtime pay. The union has already filed a formal complaint with the Labor Relations Authority, which confirmed that working beyond official hours without compensation is unlawful.

The union is calling for immediate revisions to the regulation, urging the government to ensure overtime payments as per the Employment Act and to provide back payments for unpaid overtime since May 2023. Health workers continue to work long hours, including during peak periods such as the last 10 days of Ramadan, to ensure uninterrupted services across the country.