Pres. ratifies amendment to Employment Act, setting ceiling for expat workers
It received parliamentary approval during the 33rd sitting of its second session held on September 6
The country has a migrant worker population of around 200,000
The sixth amendment to the Maldives Employment Act has been ratified.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified Act (2/2008) on Tuesday after it received parliamentary approval during the 33rd sitting of its second session held on September 6.
Stipulating several provisions to safeguard the rights of employees such as regulations mandating employers to provide a signed copy of the employment agreement to all employees, the amendment stipulates that all employers must provide signed employment agreements to within three months after the amendment comes into effect.
The amended act allows employees up to two consecutive days of paid sick leave without providing a medical certificate out of the 15 annual sick leave days.
In addition, it directs relevant cabinet ministers to determine a minimum wage for individuals employed in the Maldives, and implement it effectively.
Relevant cabinet ministers are required to carry out consultations with the ‘'Minimum Wage Advisory Board' in order to set a minimum wage. Provisions for the establishment of the board and its responsibilities have also been highlighted in the amendment.
Standards for accommodating and living conditions provided for employees as well as provisions for prioritizing employment and training opportunities for local employees is also included in the amended act.
Further, it mandates to establish a ceiling for the numbers of foreign workers from foreign countries. As such, the amendment sets 100,000 as a limit for expatriate workers from each country, given that the number currently exceeds. Changes are required to be brought within three years after the amendments are ratified.
The Maldives Immigration earlier revealed that there are nearly 200,000 migrant workers in the country out of which close to 60,000 are living illegally in the island nation.
The government-endorsed amendments proposed to the act were reviewed by the social affairs and economic committees of the People's Majlis.
The sixth amendment to the Employment Act has been publicized in the government gazette following ratification.
