Hussain “Fittey” Ziyad, Member of Parliament for Vaikaradhoo constituency, has revealed the reason why employees working in Maldivian resorts need to participate in the “Fudhijje, Fundijje!” rally organized by the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), slated for January 31.

Speaking on RaajjeTV's ‘Fala Surukhee’ program, the lawmaker said that the current situation in the Maldives has reached a point where people are very concerned, and this is an issue that concerns all Maldivian citizens.

The MDP lawmaker said that looking at the current situation in the Maldives, one of the main concerns of the people is the rise in prices of goods to unaffordable levels, causing great hardship to ordinary families living modest lives. He added that the extreme increase in electricity bills and other bills is also a burden that people are forced to suffer now.

Stressing that people are in a very difficult situation presently, the MDP lawmaker said that they can no longer remain silent if they wish to overcome the ongoing crisis. The MDP lawmaker said that the main opposition party has always been a party that works the hardest in service of the Maldivian people to save them from the hardships they face.

Calling on all citizens to participate in the march organized by MDP slated for January 31, the MDP lawmaker said that the full message of the difficult situation people are living in needs, needs to reach the incumbent’s ears. He said that the reality of the extremely high cost of living and the worsening living conditions of the people need to be revealed to the government.

The MDP lawmaker said that while food and other items have become unaffordable, the rate of USD  is also at an unaffordable level, and USD is not even available anymore. He said that this concern is the greatest among the vulnerable employees working in the tourism sector.

Noting that there is a very large population working in the tourism sector, the MDP lawmaker said that there is an unexpectedly large population in that sector. He noted that while there is a large population of resort staff, there are also many large families behind them. Therefore, these families depend on the salaries of those working in the resorts. He also said that the decision to pay salaries in Maldivian Rufiyaa instead of USD as before is a disadvantage to those parties.

The parliamentarian said that resort staff in the Maldives spend the whole year away from their families, and the government's decision to convert their salaries, tips, and service charges from USD to MVR is a great disadvantage and injustice to them. He also said it impoverishes their families.

Going on to state that due to the restrictive measures imposed by the government on Maldivian resorts, all the losses and disadvantages are falling on the vulnerable employees working in the resorts, the MDP lawmaker urged these parties to participate in the march slated for January 31 to fight against this shortcoming. Further, he said that the reform movement is especially significant for resort staff.

Speaking further, MP Ziyad noted that there is currently no way for young people to live comfortably in the Maldives, and even the members of parliament who represent the people have nothing greater than the government today. Therefore, he stressed that finding a way for young people and citizens to live comfortably in the Maldives is something that needs to be achieved, as soon as possible.