Employees of state-owned enterprise made to work on President Yameen’s campaign

Incumbent President Abdulla Yameen’s faction of the ruling party have again been accused of coercing state employees into supporting their political activity.

An employee at the state-run Public Works Services’ branch in Fonadhoo island of Laamu atoll have said that both he and his colleagues are required to work on President Yameen’s campaign for re-election.

The employee, who spoke to RaajjeMV under the condition of anonymity, claimed he and his colleagues are required to draw up banners and stick up posters in the region.

He expressed frustration at the fact that they are required to work on the government’s campaign efforts in addition to daily work sessions.

“We are made to work at midnight. After a long day’s work, that makes it really difficult”, the source said.

He said employees of the Public Works Services, which has an ongoing project to lay tar on roads in Fonadhoo island, are ‘not even given water or any compensation’ for their efforts.

In July, two employees of the state utilities company FENAKA, claimed that management has attempted to ‘coerce’ them into guaranteeing their support for President Yameen in the upcoming elections.

The two employees were transferred after they refused to work on the ruling party’s presidential campaign and subsequently left employment at FENAKA.

President Yameen’s opponents have long accused him of abusing state resources, assets, and employees of the civil service for political gain and state employees – even members of independent institutions – are seen organizing and participating in campaign and support events held by the ruling party.

In the past four years, employees of the civil service have reported being coerced and even bribed into attending and supporting such events, who claim they are threatened with dismissal and salary reductions if they fail to comply.