The People’s Majlis has passed a report compiled by the Committee on Social Affairs detailing measures required to be taken by relevant authorities to ensure the people are not turned out onto the streets.
The committee report was passed during Wednesday’s virtual parliamentary sitting with the unanimous votes from 66 parliamentarians.
The report is based on a motion submitted by the MP for central-Henveiru constituency and Majority Leader Ali Azim on March 30, seeking Majlis approval on the implementation of the government’s program to overcome the challenges facing businesses as well as families due to the precautionary measures being implemented by the government to contain and control the spread of coronavirus.
The committee report includes seven proposals, one being reducing rent for apartments and houses rented to the people by the government, introducing a moratorium package and order the job center to monitor how individuals use it in outlying atolls as well as in Malé City.
It further proposes to take fines of a specific percentage if companies mistreat their employees and to not issue moratorium packages, all at once.
In addition, the report seeks the Education Ministry to cooperate with telecommunications service providers to introduce special internet packages to students in order to ensure they can actively participate in the tele-classes under the ministry-initiated online program, without discrimination.
Moreover, the committee has sought from the government to implement the required measures by atoll, city and island councils to ensure the people are not turned out onto the streets for failing to settle their rent payments at a time the Covid-19 pandemic is sweeping steadily across the country, heavily affecting the country’s economy and consecutively the business industry.
The committee report also proposed to the government to not open mosques, public parks and other locations where public gatherings take place, unless the Health Protection Agency (HPA) instructs to do so.
Parliamentarians present at Wednesday’s virtual sitting had debated on the report and members expressed their support for the committee’s report.