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News Archives - November 2008
Maldives To Join ILO
Minister for Employment Hassan Lateef has said he will submit an application for the Maldives to join the International Labour Organisation before 4 December.
If the bid is accepted, it could mean employment rights in Maldives will receive international support.
The ILO, a specialised agency of the United Nations, aims to promote labour rights and encourage work opportunities in the belief that “labour peace” reduces poverty.
Labour rights are in their infancy in Maldives, with the country bringing provisions for minimum wage, maximum working hours and holidays into law for the first time this year.
Such provisions have however not been implemented as there has been no employment tribunal created and no minimum wage has been set.
Ahmed Easa, president of the Maldives’ Tourism Employees Association, welcomed the move but expressed cynicism about any difference ILO membership could make.
“To be honest I don’t have much hope in the government because of the way it has been handling labour rights over the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“I don’t think we can ask much of them but the ILO is an international organisation so I’m hoping they will push for better employment rights,” he added.
The ILO recommends certain provisions, including a maximum working day and week, prevention of unemployment and provision of an adequate living wage, protection against sickness and injury arising out of employment, and equal pay for work of equal value.
The ILO was founded in 1919 in order to promote peace and prosperity in the aftermath of World War I. The organisation received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.
Source: Minivan News
