The day I met the representatives of resort staff, they told me several stories. Some of them were distressing
I have promised my help to bring those stories to the community.
The stories gave me the reason to reflect on the many dimensions that need to be addressed in drafting legislations under the upcoming constitution and preparing those laws impacting the economic sector or specific industries.
I must forewarn that I cannot vouch for the accuracy or validity or existence or gravity of those stories. They are summarized here from what has been narrated to me by resort staff in a formal meeting. Any untrue, exaggerated or misleading statement is deeply regretted and is never intended to hurt or harm anyone's interest. Anyone interested in following these stories must find own ways of corroboration.
I write those stories with that caution for the larger public interest.
1. In most instances, contractual terms for locals and foreigners are not the same even though their work may fall within the same description.
2. Some of those who come in as foreign manual labor or gardeners may be found doing executive jobs on some resorts.
3. Some senior foreign staff employed on some resorts employ their spouses or close family members on other senior or mid level positions in the same resorts causing added trouble for locals.
4. Some local staff do not have employment contracts and are considered as casual staff who could be terminated from employment any time without any entitlements.
5. Lapses often occur in providing paid leave, certainty of employment, working hours, or periods of leave for the local staff.
6. Staff quarters and staff mess facilities used by local staff in some resorts fall below the acceptable standards for human habitation or use.
7. Salary scales for locals in most resorts have not been revised for decades despite inflation having risen by many percentage points over the past two decades keeping the average basic salary still within the MRf 1500 - MRF 3000 range for most locals.
8. Serious discrimination in terms of salary, treatment and benefits, is seen in some resorts between local and foreign staff despite being employed in similar positions or jobs.
9. Working hours tend to increase in some resorts during the fasting month.
10. Sufficient arrangements are not made in some resorts to allow for breaking of fast, and many local staff remain on the job without proper food intake for hours beyond the time set for breaking of fast.
11. Food items brought on to some resorts for guest consumption are often supplied for use by local staff in some resorts, when they have become expired products.
12. Most resorts do not have a resident medical practitioner of any standard and some resorts do not even have a ready supply of common medicines for normal or regular ailments.
13. Some resorts do not have any insurance cover for their staff and some resorts which have taken the cover do not let the staff know of that cover or avail its benefits.
14. No reasonable compensation is offered by some resorts for injury suffered by staff members while in their employment.
15. Government departments sometimes inform resort managements of staff who lodge complaints against attitudes of the management, and in doing so, allow the opportunity to those resort managements to harass the complainants.
16. Resort inspections are not done responsibly in some cases and important lapses are not found as fact in those inspections.
17. Young school leavers being sent in place of qualified inspectors sometimes pave the way for misleading inspections or manipulation by some resort managements.
18. Foreigners are sometimes allowed to work on tourist visas.
19. Foreign staff are sometimes afforded protection by the managements of some resorts from various crimes and are kept in continuous employment despite their wrongdoings.
20. No significant percentage of money is spent on training local staff, as an industry, compared to the big money spent on marketing the resorts.
21. The requisite ratio that ought to be kept between foreign and local staff is not honored in some resorts.
22. Unfair dismissals are sometimes ignored by government departments.
Comments (7)
I not for one minute doubt some of these stories are true. But we have to remember that without the large foreign labour force in this country our economy will collapse. More often than not their work is under recognised. We treat them very badly. Judge them with paranoia. Ofcourse there are the rotten bad ones but their actions should not discredit the LARGE law abiding, hard working expatriate work force honestly working for the advancement of our country. Education, tourism, health, construction, business, sports and even in some senior executive positions expatriate staff bring skills and knowledge that we locals do not have. Having worked overseas and seeing how I was treated with respect and dignity, given equal rights that locals have I was able to excel in my field of work and at the same time provide my services for betterment of the society. You can only work in an environment where you are not judged for how you look, speak, religion and other differences but on the merits of what you can offer based on your education and experience. We should get over the attitude of "you cannot be working at a higher position than me, I am the local guy!" May be you someone should listen to the grievances of the expatriate community to see the other side of the coin.
Posted by Expat | July 17, 2008 4:45 AM
Posted on July 17, 2008 04:45
This is a cynical attempt by Government purporting to represent Maldivian employment rights before the upcoming elections.
Maldivian are generally nice and accommodating people, and we are most liberal country for employment, in spite of many locals without good employment. Try getting a job in UK or even in India.
Virtually all middle management and professionals are foreign, That means Maldivian are at the mercy of these people.
These foreigners are kept in high rent places in Male. They shop at Fantasy. While Maldivian get peanuts as room boys.
Also in Sri lankan dominated resorts there are cliques and only they can survive. From owners to suppliers, it is their show.
Last night I went to Hotel Exhibition and they have all the stalls. When a I tried see the to US education stall, one Sri Lankan accountant took so much time there, I had to leave.
The economy of this country is firmly in the hands of foreigners now.
But this is a situation of our own making.
Posted by 2ndclass | July 17, 2008 8:50 PM
Posted on July 17, 2008 20:50
As a resort employee with past experience in many local management resorts I agree with almost all the points highlighted in the article. Well written and thanks for the efforts to highlight the issues concerning resort employees.
Posted by Masood | July 18, 2008 11:30 AM
Posted on July 18, 2008 11:30
I agree with Expat.
Most of above all is true. But i do not think we have room to blame expats here. Its our own short coming. Be it local or expat, whoever is passionate and committed to their work, success will follow them. lets stop whining and start to love what we do and do it right constantly.
having said that, i do think tourism ministry or some legal body needs to check the discrimination between expats and local payrolls while they do the same job and take the same responsibility.
Posted by Shi | July 18, 2008 4:03 PM
Posted on July 18, 2008 16:03
I quite agree with the expat. The point is that there needs to be fair working conditions for all. We need not differentiate between local and expats. The responsible government agencies need to set standards and make sure that the resorts abide by those standards. Reacting to isolated incidents can cause more harm than good. It is a proactive industry regulator that is needed. The Ministry of Tourism does not seem to have done that well, going by the gist of what has been said.
Posted by Shihab | July 20, 2008 1:40 AM
Posted on July 20, 2008 01:40
Dear Minister
Thank you so much so bringing the above to the lime light.
Having had first hand experience in this indusrty, unfortuntaly I have to agree that most of the points raised are sad but true. Discrimination has gone so far that even foriegn staff had enjoyed better pay and better faciltities than their local HOD.
I sincerly hope that these issues will be addresed this time as we have already had enough and more
Posted by Bond | July 20, 2008 12:54 PM
Posted on July 20, 2008 12:54
Thank you Mr Nasheed for hearing our grievance and I sincerely hope our rights are fully included in the to be amended labour law.
Just to comment on the issues raised by our fellow delegates at your meeting it represents concerns for vast majority and they are not fabricated but are undoubtedly genuine .
Moving from rights to a different perspective ;
Just to give you a glimpse of one negative socio impact of this industry due to failure of the law enforcement authorities is Most young Maldivians who starts carreer in this Industry are spoilt and they are indirectly encouraged to use alcohol and sleep with female staff.
Usually there are laws prohibiting this act but is not honoured by management and are often ignored.
I would like to know from you as the legal reform Minister , Does the current and new constitution provides space to operate Bars for the employees?
for your kind information these Bars exist and are serously destroying a significant number of young Maldivians.
Once again thank you for your commitment and hope you would answer my question in your post
Posted by ali | July 21, 2008 11:29 PM
Posted on July 21, 2008 23:29