1. The ad hock strikes by some resort staff!
One reader commented: “About the resorts implementing the law, it’s a nightmare! Those who have implemented have cut down on food costs for staffs. I think this employment act is designed for civil servants. There are some things that you just cannot implement in an industry like tourism, fisheries etc. We need to amend the law.”
Many Maldivian staff in the tourist resorts are obviously unhappy with the design and the implementation of the Employment Act (Law). In some resorts Sri Lankans or Indians seem to be better treated than the Maldivians. It is humiliating for some to be terated worse than foreigners in their own country!
There have been ad hock strikes by some staff at resorts such as Manfaru. These staff claims that many resorts are still not implementing the recently passed labour law. Staff claims that many resorts still do not grant staff the rights that the labour law allows them to get.
This is something that the new tourism Minister and the President should look into. Just because some major resort operators are in the government does not mean that the government could turn a blind eye to this simmering crisis.
2. Would this cutting of import duties apply to all medicine, including over-the-counter medicine such as Penadol?
President Nasheed, at a press conference on 24th November, announced that his government would soon cut import duties diesel and medicine and some food items. This is something that as expected. What I would like to clarify is whether this cutting of import duties would apply to all medicine, including over-the-counter medicine such as Penadol too? I think import duty should be cut for all medicine, including over-the-counter medicine such as Penadol and even food supplements such as Vitamin-C and multi Vitamins too.
3. Import duty would be waived for which food items?
President Nasheed said that import duty would be waived for some food items? My question is what items would that be? I would like to see the duty remain for unhealthy (junk) food and that the duty be waived for all healthy and essential food such as vegetables, fruits, rice, flour, sugar, cooking oil, etc.
good points Bushree!!
ReplyDeletewe need to keep the tax for unhealthy foods and encourage and educate the citizen of healthy options. lead them to a more civilized way of life.
Abt resorts implementing the law, its a nightmare. those who have implemented has cut down on food costs for staffs.
But i also think this employment act is designed for civil servants or rather gov offices. There are some things that you just can not implement in an industry like tourism, fisheries etc. we need to amend the law.
dheranuvey heyo verikameh kohdhinumah waudhuvi meehun heyo verikameh ragalhah kodhdhendhen keiytherivebala mihaaru hukuru khuthubagaves e anganynu sarukaarah faadunukiya keiytherive thibumasha hajoo nujehumasha gheeba nubunumah adhi tharaqqeeves kureveyny rayyithunves masakkaiy kogenney hama ehenmme kharadhu kudakurumakyves hurihaa rayyithunves kuryma kureveyne kanthakey sarukaarun ekani ekameh nuvaaney foiy fansuru thakethi hiley dheynama e ee zimmaadhaaru sarukaareh nooney thimaage wazeefa dhamahattan konmme myhakuves migothah mifadha vaahakaeh konmme sarukaareggaves dhakkaanedhoa valhula myhage machchah mahaana kairy dhuaa kurumakyves mihaaru hudhdha meege kurin sheikh rashydh kurevvyma kamu nugos dr majeedh kurevvyma ragalhu hevvaa kameh ragalhu massalaeh noon evaahaka thakaky verikamah annan dhekki vaahaka konmmehen verikamah aadhevunyma e ee ekan kuranjeheyne gothehnoontha dhoa anni aky evves iregga qaanoonakah boa lenbi meehehnnoon vyma mihaaru baaru oiy iru kykkuran qaanoonah boalaban jeheny muzaahiraa qaanoonah miqaanoon vy iru jennyfamen kudhinnah muzaahira eh nukurevunu mikahahala kiththanmme kameh adhi dhivehinnah fennaane visna fikurukurey iyyeves tv ah ara buny mifco,stelco airport beyrubayakah dhey vaahaka ahremenah neygi thibba aharemen vikkaalaafa ovva fennaany miothy aharemennah balaaverikameh fenifa mi comment nujahaane eiruntha zimmaa dhaaru minivan noosverikamakah vaanyves dho
ReplyDeletewe really need DUTY FREE for air-conditions, solar panels, baby items & educational toys, speedboats & marine engines, computers, books & magazines, phones & communication equipments. we also need to increase duty 900% for cars and motorcycles. its important to consider our geography and critical needs.
ReplyDeleteDear Bushree,
ReplyDeleteSorry if i confuse you! i did not mean that its a nightmare to only Maldivians. this time its not abt nationality. its the whole package. the law is not suitable for the industry. I think we need to concentrate more on Minimum wage rate and maximum working hours. Making Friday a public holiday does not work in the industry. THis is voice from a resort that has implements correct measures. BUT still there is lots of things that Sawad need to carefully scrutinize, like you said the discrimination of salaries and benefits among local and white or foreigners.
Sorry, it seems this comment is still but twisted, but try to read with a broad mind.
i am very surprised that the current tourism minister is staying silent over this matter. Lots of maldivians are being sacked from resorts for demanding their rights as enshrined in constitution.
ReplyDeleteFirst we saw was that MATI discrediting TEAM by sending letters to resort managements. After that the resorts started sacking the protesting employees.
When are these minister going to be made accountable????
The guy who told he will retire after MDP win's elections is the face of the Ruling Government.
the pervert who said he will retire after gayoom is dethroned is the new face and envoy and representative of the new government. the stooge of the jumhooree coalition made up of big businessmen and resort owners is the new tourism minister in Aneh Dhivehi Raajje. How do you expect labour laws to be implemented in the tourism sector when the tourism employers are running the show? but mark my words. the rebellion against the corporate consolidation of our riches, fortunes and governance is about to begin.
ReplyDeletei think the president said duty is waived for healthy n basic food items.
ReplyDeleten with regard to employment act even the government bodies fail to implement it accordingly. the overtime rules of the civil service n the overtime rules of bodies like the education sector contradicts very much.
how these acts n laws r implemented differ from lets say school to school. some school heads do not want to let their staff know that they cud b on leave for 2consecutive days without sick leave. wen the staff inquires about it they say thats according to the civil service act, the ministry's one wud b different n that they have to act as per the ministry's rules n regulation.
n also in one school too there is high discrimination for giving OT. Staff r asked to claim for OT only upto 1/3rd of their salary. but some cud claim for any amount they wish n they r given OT. so it wud be better if the civil service, ministry of education n the schools sit together n decide on how to give OT for school staff before the schools re-open.
it wud also b great if Bushry cud do an analysis on this n bring it to the attention of the concerned government bodies.
as the pervert guy said in development first will come democratic revolution, but a economy to be truly capitalistic a labor revolution should follow it.
ReplyDeleteIt's time to stop the slavery.
Complaints, issues, concerns, problems, difficulties etc...are parts and parcel of life. it's a common phenomena of mankind's life. If everything is perfect in this world, then this world would stop running smoothly.
ReplyDeleteThe Employment Act passed by the DRP controlled Majlis is an extremely bad piece of legislation. It must be amended asap.
ReplyDeleteThis Act has been drafted keeping in mind only those civil servants working in Male'. But is to be applicable for all employees from all walks of life.
Th resort employees like all other employees should be treated fairly and ofcourse should have rights similar to others. But they must remember that for them to have their jobs, the resort must be able to operate first! You can't demand unrealistic benefits.
This Employee Act is another example of the mess created by Maumoon under the guise of employee rights, when in fact it is creating chaos, raising inflation, making small business owners bankrupt if they were to comply with these regulations.
Look at the whole world! They are repealing such antique laws and making way for more productivity and economic growth. We seem to have moved backwards under Maumoon. The former government never knew there is such a thing called the private sector which keeps our economy moving! And providing the revenue to the government to provide services to the people. We must consider the practical difficulties of the employers when making such laws. We can't make one-sided laws.
I agree that there must be an Employee Act which will stipulate minimum wages and require the Employer to have a proper contract with the Employees that must indicate all the terms and conditions of the job including Basic Salary, Allowances, working hours, over time, leave and other benefits etc. These are business terms that are to be mutually agreed between the parties( the Employer and the Employee) and it is not up to the government to say at what time who should go for lunch break! Different industries and different jobs will require different conditions. Do you expect the doctor performing and operation that might take several hours to say " my working hours are now up and I have to go!" Definitely No!
Our tourism industry is required to provide world class service 24 hrs a day and the present Employee's Act mandates such less woring hours that it would be impossible for 5 star resorts to provide the necessary services to their guests if they were to comply to the letter with this Law.
I doubt if there is any such stupid Employee's Act anywhere in the whole world! The sooner this Law is amended the better for our country. The whole world is going through economic turmoil and implementing measures to kick start their economies while we seem to be living in a dream world and making laws that are immensely detrimental our businesses...whether they are resorts, construction, small businesses etc. Without these companies being able to function in an economically viable and in a practical way, how do you even provide any employment to anybody or any salaries to anybody??
Are we now in a communist like mentality or what?
Complaints, issues, concerns, problems, difficulties etc...are parts and parcel of life. it's a common phenomena of mankind's life. If everything is perfect in this world, then this world would stop running smoothly.
ReplyDeleteYes its not a major problem if MDP is ruling.But a enormous problem during Maumoon's time..hahaha
I think we are still new to the system. Resort employees go on strike with every demand. They should realize that like they have rights, the employer also has his rights.
ReplyDeleteMr.Easa from TEAM should learn to go ahead with unbiased rules. Ask him if he ever met with resort managements to find solutions to employees' problems. Did he ever realize that resorts need time to adjust to new rules? Where has he come from? I am also a resort employee. But I do understand that there is room for improvement and things need to be changed. But I do not welcome the idea of hijacking the employers and creating chaos in peaceful resorts. We are servants in hospitality industry and we need to learn to be polite and courteous. There are better ways to bring reform than being hostile.
27/11/08 00:33
ReplyDeleteThe Employment ACT is for civil servants. PERIOD. im a resort employee too and this law is driving everybody crazy now. We need rights, but not how this DPR controlled majlis has done it. THey (DRP and some MDP) members in Majlis does not realise this industry is based on business that comes from Europe majorely. they should know better than anyone else as they (majlis members) own these resorts. What TEAM is doing is their Job. resort management is also too rigid to implement these rules. TEAM needs to standup for us. We need rights such as minimum wages, pension schemes, maximum working hours etc. Discrimination among foreigners and Locals in regards to salary, accomodation, food etc. These are our concerns. I do not think tourism industry or fisheries industry employees and employers were considered or discussed in the process of making this LAW. Some one need to fix this immediately before it affects badly to these industries. The resort managements are reluctant to invest further now (which should not be the case) but this is the truth. They are cutting down on other costs, just because some or most of the departments can not be closed on Friday,.
i am not a resort worker, but I do believe the accusations of discrimination is inherent in this sector. mind you Maldivians discriminate against other asians too and it is equally appalling.
ReplyDeleteI was on a resort transfer boat once and there were people from the nearby islands on it, were clearly practicing segregation. whether the maldivians were paying or not is irrelevant. since i get sea sick, i decided to sit outside, where there was a breeze, and this tour operator was complaining that to the crew that i was hogging the area designated for guests...while i could get away with ignoring the stupid cow (as i had been hired by the management for a consultancy) the others were subjected to this routine discrimination. jaaga nthiyya neyruviyas maa rangalhuvaane