Dr. Vitaliy Lyubimov, the former Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) appointed to Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company Limited (MIFCO), has lodged a case at the Employment Tribunal regarding his abrupt termination.

Vitaliy filed the case on 17 March 2025, after he was terminated from his position as Chief Executive Officer of MIFCO on 3 March 2025, without being paid the compensation for the notice period that should have been given. He had been serving in the position since 10 December 2024.

In the case filed by Vitaliy, he requested the tribunal to determine that he was terminated without the three-month notice period or the equivalent of three months' salary as stipulated in the employment agreement. He also asks the tribunal to rule that MIFCO must pay him USD 42,000, which is equivalent to three months' salary, for terminating him without the required notice period as per the employment agreement.

MIFCO has stated that this case cannot be heard by the tribunal.

MIFCO argued that since this case concerns the termination from the position of a company director or managing director, and such positions do not fall under the Employment Act, the tribunal does not have jurisdiction to hear the case. They requested that the case submission form be invalidated.

However, the tribunal has decided that it can hear the case and has instructed MIFCO to respond.

Vitaliy was the first foreigner to serve as CEO of MIFCO. The government has not revealed the exact reason for his sudden termination. On 5 March 2025, retired Brigadier General Faruhath Shaheer was appointed to the position.