35 workers stationed in Thinadhoo island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll and 22 stationed in Alifushi island of Raa atoll have been abruptly laid off.

The employees in Thinadhoo were terminated on Monday and those in Alifushi island were let go on Sunday.

RaajjeMV understands that the 35 workers in Thinadhoo were employed by the Road Development Corporation (RDC).

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu repeatedly pledged that no employee of state-owned companies would be let go, as part of his presidential election campaign.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) earlier strongly condemned the ongoing mass layoffs of employees at the RDC site in Alifushi.

In response to the sudden termination of several employees, MDP’s Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has also expressed concern.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Fayyaz said that contrary to the promises made during the election and without offering any alternatives, 35 employees from Thinadhoo and 22 RDC employees from Alifushi have been laid off within the past two days.

This, he said, has cut off the income of many families in the two islands, after the government repeatedly assured job security to those employees.

Fayyaz said that after laying off people in the name of cost-cutting, the unlimited hiring of political employees shows the government's lack of sincerity.

The main-opposition party’s chairperson went on to stress that political power should not be increased by threatening jobs and that it is the minimum responsibility of the government to work on finding alternatives and inform the public about such efforts, before terminating employment.

Further, Fayyaz revealed that 12 employees were hired by Fenaka Corporation Limited to influence the recent by-election for the Maarandhoo Council seat.

In a statement issued earlier, MDP highlighted that it is unacceptable to cut off the income of so many families and put them through hardship during such an economic crisis.

The opposition party stressed that while regular employees have been facing “oppression”, the Alifushi RDC site has observed an unprecedented surge in new senior positions.

With this, MDP has urged the government to immediately halt the terminations of employees and not to break pledges.