Three Years In, Government Has Failed to Deliver: Easa

Former Member of Parliament for the Kendhikulhudhoo constituency, Ahmed Easa, has stated that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has openly committed every act he pledged to avoid during his campaign. Easa further noted that as the administration approaches its third year, none of the promises the President vowed to deliver have materialized for the public.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "Fala Surukhee" program, Easa stated that prior to assuming office, President Muizzu had pledged that no employee would lose their job. However, Easa noted that under the current administration, the dismissal of employees from state-owned enterprises has increased significantly.

Highlighting that the Employment Tribunal was once a trusted institution for employees seeking to protect their rights following dismissal, Easa stated that the tribunal is now operating in violation of court orders and its own established legal precedents.

The dismissal of employees has reached an extreme level, with terminations being carried out arbitrarily. Furthermore, the Employment Tribunal—an institution that has remained free from political influence under every administration since its inception—is now under threat. Historically, the workforce has maintained a high degree of trust in the Tribunal as a venue to seek redress for their rights. However, the integrity of the institution is now being dismantled. By appointing political figures directly to the Tribunal, cases are being summarily dismissed as soon as they are filed, in direct contradiction to established legal precedents.

Ahmed Easa

While President Muizzu has decided to dissolve Fenaka and RDC, Easa stated that the President's current efforts are aimed at unfairly dismissing employees.

Easa stated that ordinary employees at RDC and Fenaka had previously been intimidated and coerced into joining the ruling PNC. He further alleged that senior officials at these companies were told that if they wished to retain their positions, they were required to ensure ten members of their families also signed up for the PNC.

There are reports of 6,000 employees being terminated, a process that is currently underway. This situation has been handled with significant deception. Initially, all rank-and-file staff at Fenaka and RDC were instructed to join the PNC, with warnings that failure to do so would put their jobs at risk. Senior officials were told that if they wished to retain their positions, they must each secure the party membership of ten family members. Despite these demands being met, the process of dismissing all employees from these two companies is now moving forward.

Ahmed Easa

Easa stated that the government is not dissolving state-owned enterprises to protect the rights of the people, but rather with the intention of leaving numerous citizens destitute and unemployed.

During a press conference held at the President's Office on Monday, President Muizzu announced the decision to dissolve Fenaka Corporation and Road Development Corporation (RDC). Under this restructuring, Fenaka will be merged with STELCO, while RDC will be integrated into MTCC. President Muizzu stated that these measures were taken with the objective of rightsizing state-owned enterprises and reducing government expenditure.

However, the merger of these companies has raised concerns regarding the job security of their current employees. Many are now alleging that the government's underlying motive for dissolving these entities is to facilitate the mass dismissal of staff.