MP for Fonadhoo constituency and famed lawyer, Moosa Siraj, has stated that service charge is a right of the worker and that action must be taken against employers that stiff workers on service charge.

Siraj made the statement via Twitter in regard to the dismissal of a resort worker, Ahmed Shimhaz of Guraidhoo island of Thaa atoll, for revealing the amount of service charge paid to locals.

In response to this incident, Siraj stated that it is unacceptable and that the rights of workers must be protected.

Declaring that service charge is the right of the worker, Siraj claimed that if an adequate service charge is not paid, employees are allowed to talk about it. He went onto state that action must be taken against resorts that refuse to pay an adequate service charge to their employees.

Resort worker, Shimhaz was fired from his job as a security officer at Hondaafushi Island Resort for disclosing that locals at the resort are paid only USD11 as service charge. The incident came to the public eye after a message between Shimhaz and the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) went viral on social media.

In his message, Shimhaz claimed that the resort was attempting to terminate him from his job and pressuring him to sign a resignation letter. He also added that his native island is very far from where he is employed and that leaving the job at the present moment would be difficult for him due to his financial status.

Shimhaz asserts that the resort is attempting to dismiss him unfairly by falsely accusing him of being a careless employee.

Following his dismissal from the resort, many have come out in Shimhaz's defence especially on social media. As such, the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) stated that they are closely monitoring the progress of the incident and the organisation will provide all necessary legal support.

Hondaafushi Island Resort is a four-star resort owned by AAA Hotels & Resorts; a subsidiary of AAA Trading Company. The company currently operates three other resorts. They are Filitheyo Island Resort in Faafu atoll, Medhufushi Island Resort in Meemu atoll, and Bathala Island Resort in South Ari Atoll.