Resort employees launch petition against mandatory salary payments in MVR

Resort employees have launched a petition opposing the payment of salaries and service charges in Maldivian Rufiyaa, following recent amendments to the Foreign Exchange Act passed by the People’s Majlis.

This petition is an initiative led by the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM). In a statement released on social media on Friday, the association urged employees from all member resorts, as well as those from non-member resorts, to sign the petition.

The Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) stated that the primary objective of this petition is to protect employees' wages and ensure they receive a fair and just salary. Furthermore, the association has called on the government to halt proposed changes that would prevent resort employees from receiving their income in US dollars.

TEAM has expressed deep concern that the government's recent decision will drastically reduce the income of tourism sector employees, forcing them to face significant financial hardship. The organization further emphasized that the country's current economic situation is not due to any negligence on the part of the employees. To address the foreign exchange shortage, TEAM called on the government to instead focus on reducing its own wasteful expenditure.

During Wednesday's parliamentary sitting, it was decided to amend the Foreign Currency Act to require resort employees to exchange 40 percent of their US dollar income into local currency through banks.

In addition to TEAM, the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) and the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) have also expressed concern over the recent legislative amendment.