The government has revealed that 450 individuals reported to the Job Center about job terminations up until Monday.
Speaking to press on Monday night, Covid-19 spokesperson Mohamed Mabrook Aziz revealed that the government will not have employers depriving their staff of wages and employment during these troubling times of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ever since the pandemic hit the country’s economy, several employers have been terminating their staff, putting them on no-pay leave or limiting their wages due to financial losses.
Since then, the government has urged employers to refrain from terminating their employees and cutting back their salaries.
The Job Center established by the Ministry of Economic Development has thus far received 1,832 complaints out of which 450 individuals reported to have been terminated.
Out of the total, 562 individuals have been put on no-pay leave, 253 have had their wages reduced, 160 have had their salaries reduced by half, 131 suspended employees as well as 63 individuals who receive just their basic salaries.
Further, 193 private employees also filed reports at the center.
The Economic Minister, Fayyaz Ismail has urged all employees who face such repercussions at work to report to the Job Center. Earlier this week, the Economic Ministry also established a call center exclusively for those seeking services at the Job Center.
The government earlier decided to offer an allowance for those who lose their jobs. As such, starting April, allowances will be offered to those who lose their jobs, for a period of three months under the stimulus package.
The main purpose of introducing the stimulus package is to extend assistance to those who are facing the burden and challenges due to the fast-spreading pandemic, said Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer. It aims to mitigate the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.
Over 11,000 employees in the hospitality and tourism industry have been sacked or put on leave without pay, at a time the tourism industry is on a downward spiral.