Concerns have been mounting that Manta Air employees may stage protests due to the company paying salaries for staff in Maldivian Rufiyaa instead of U.S. Dollars.

According to available information, Manta Air employees have held internal discussions over the salary payment issue. The meeting comes amid rising tensions in the aviation sector, as Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) staff had also planned a protest for July 26 over a similar concern. TMA later reversed its decision and agreed to resume salary payments in U.S. Dollars.

RaajjeMV understands that Manta Air employees voiced serious concerns during the meeting, expressing fears that the shift to salary payments in Maldivian Rufiyaa would effectively reduce their earnings. Employees are calling for an immediate resolution to the issue, stressing that the rising cost of living makes such a change unacceptable to many.

It has also been reported that Manta Air management is now aware of the employees’ meeting. The airline had earlier stated that the decision to pay salaries in Maldivian Rufiyaa, rather than U.S. Dollars, was made due to a lack of viable alternatives. However, with tensions rising and the issue still unresolved, there is growing concern that Manta Air employees may also resort to protest.

Amid rising concerns among Manta Air employees, the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) has expressed apprehension over the prospect of airline staff protests. In a statement responding to Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) employees’ planned protest, MATATO warned that any disruption to tourist travel could seriously harm the reputation of the Maldivian tourism industry as a whole.

The association warned that such protests could result in flight delays for tourists, leading to financial losses for both resorts and airlines, while also damaging the Maldives’ hard-earned reputation. Consequently, MATATO has previously urged relevant authorities to take swift action to resolve the issue.