Over 45,000 resort workers alone are being affected as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was revealed through the findings of the “Rapid Livelihood Assessment”, carried out by the government of Maldives, with the support from the UNDP Maldives and commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Development.
It is also supported by the National Bureau of Statistics, Maldives National University, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture, Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment and the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage.
Conducted with the aim to understand the extent and nature of the impacts caused by the global pandemic, the assessment explores the impacts facing employment and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
As such, a report publicized by the Economic Ministry reveals that the findings indicate a "grave impact" on the lives of resort workers, following the tourism industry of the island nation being at a standstill due to the pandemic. This, the report cited has increased vulnerability across a number of dimensions, and key findings include that more than 45,000 resort workers are being directly affected including 22,000 local employees in the payroll of resorts.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic downturn has been unprecedented at many levels. The rapid livelihood assessment undertaken with the assistance of UNDP and partner institutions is an important step forward in understanding the ground impact on livelihoods and businesses. This study would also be central in designing policy initiatives aimed at the long-term recovery of the Maldivian economy and worker’s welfare"Fayyaz Ismail, Minister of Economic Development
Other findings include:
- Those on probation and mostly included in younger age groups had faced termination.
- Authorities predict job security to be uncertain after July, for a majority of resort workers as operations are not expected to be normal for a longer period than initially anticipated.
- Services of freelancers, seasonal workers and local vendors supplying goods to resorts are halted. Majority of these individuals work on mutual understanding that they may lose their work at any time.
- A majority of workers have had their income completely cut, with a majority being put on no-pay leave from April to June.
- Terminated payroll staff and those who are on no-pay will experience an average loss of income ranging from USD 600 – 1,000 per month from April to June.
- Probability is high for workers on reduced pay to experience an income loss of 60% from April to June.
UNDP has been a trusted development partner of the Maldives for more than 40 years, providing assistance in areas of democratic transition, environment protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and reduction of inequalities and exclusion.
