Civil Servants Reportedly Shifted to Support PNC Congress

It has come to light that civil service employees at government ministries are being forced to work in shifts to assist with the upcoming congress of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC).

Staff members familiar with the matter have shared these details with RaajjeMV.

Employees from the Ministry of Health who spoke to RaajjeMV revealed that staff members from every department are required to remain on duty in the ministry's meeting room on a rotational basis for the PNC Congress. The purpose of this arrangement is to provide immediate responses to any inquiries directed at government agencies by PNC delegates during the ongoing congress.

According to some employees, various departments had previously prepared and submitted presentations as part of the preparations for the congress. Furthermore, while performing these congress-related duties at the Ministry, staff have also provided political appointees with briefing papers detailing specific islands and the potential questions that may arise.

Employees who spoke to RaajjeMV stated that ministry officials initially instructed civil service staff from every department to report for duty at the Social Centre, where the congress is being held, to provide information alongside them. However, following an objection from the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, the arrangement was changed. The work is now being carried out through a dedicated setup established within the Ministry itself.

Employees reported that the Ministry's meeting room has been linked to the venue of the ongoing PNC Congress and will remain so until the event concludes. They further disclosed that they were mandated to work in shifts this past Friday to facilitate these operations. According to the staff, they are being forced to remain on duty for these tasks until 6:00 PM every day.

Employees are expressing growing concern over being forced to perform tasks outside their official mandates for political purposes, despite existing staffing shortages. According to the staff, this constitutes a forced involvement of civil servants in activities organized by a political party.

Information has been received indicating that this practice is also occurring in several other government ministries in addition to the Ministry of Health.

When contacted for comment regarding the matter, the President of the Civil Service Commission, Mohamed Mujthaz, stated that he had not yet received any information concerning such an incident but assured that he would look into the issue.