Employees of Aasandha, Maldives’ universal health care scheme, have been asked to attend a rally organized by the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

A source from within Aasandha’s offices, which is headed by the government’s National Social Protection Agency, said that they were given ‘no choice’ but to attend the rally.

Employees had also been told that they cannot forgo attending the rally on medical or familial excuses, as told by a senior staff member at the Aasandha office.

The party rally is to be held in capital city Malé on Thursday, and employees from other government offices have told local news outlets that there is pressure for them to attend.