RIX Maldives ordered to pay Bodufinolhu workers their due salaries
Salaries are to be settled by July 30
19 expatriate workers were arrested in connection to the Bodufinolhu unrest
The Labor Relations Authority has ordered RIX Maldives to pay pending salaries for expatriate workers stationed at Bodufinolhu island in Baa atoll by the company.
RIX Maldives is ordered to pay the pending salaries for 179 expatriate workers in Bodufinolhu island, being developed as a resort, by July 30.
Due to the long-drawn-out issue of unpaid wages, expatriate workers in the development project had been protesting peacefully for months before things escalated and they took a group of 13 Maldivians workers on the island hostage, having damaged property after securing the island.
In a letter addressed to owner of RIX Maldives and parliament representative for Milandhoo constituency, Ali Riza, the Labor Relations Authority noted that the expatriate workers besides those working for RIX and Bodufinolhu Hotel and Resort Private Limited are undocumented workers living illegally in the Maldives.
LRA cited all of the expatriate workers in the Bodufinolhu island having stated that they are employed by RIX Maldives and that transactions and documents between Seal Maldives and RIX Maldives indicate that RIX company had been paying the workers on the island.
Under the agreement made with Seal Maldives and RIX, the latter is responsible for paying the workers their due salaries as well as food and accommodation, alongside ensuring the settlement of fees to the government in relation to the workers.
In light of this, RIX Maldives has been ordered to pay the 179 expatriate workers on the island before July 30 and provide LRA with a document confirming the settlement.
The company has been warned of legal action if it fails to comply, under the Employment Act of the Maldives.
The issue of unpaid wages did not arise overnight and workers on the island had been protesting peacefully since may, calling to settle their due salaries.
19 workers were arrested following the unrest and their remand has been extended since.
Police earlier launched investigations into the human trafficking allegations against RIX Company, having accused RIX of exploiting workers and failing to provide employment fees to the government.
Asides the Bodufinolhu unrest, more protests have been arising in the country’s capital, Malé City, due to similar issues. 41 workers were arrested during one such protest and remanded by 15 days.
The authority has since condemned violent behaviors that put life and property of the public and security services at risk, having urged all not to resort to violence in the name of industrial conflicts. They have been urged to seek legal measures in resolving issues of unpaid wages and other contractual disagreements between employees and employers.
