CSC is currently looking into allegations levelled against Ministry of Social and Family Development including harassment and bullying, which a senior staff member of the ministry, Aishath Shooza claims forced her to leave.
Civil Service Commission (CSC) has launched an investigation into allegations of discriminating, and creating a hostile working environment which forced a senior staff member of Ministry of Social and Family Development, Aishath Shooza to leave.
CSC President Mohamed Naseeh speaking with Mihaaru News today said that a complaint has been filed regarding discrimination of an employee of the Ministry of Social and Family Development. The case is currently being investigated, he said.
A video circulating on social media shows Shooza, former head of the Guraidhoo Centre for People with Special Needs and a Director at the Ministry, speaking at a meeting for senior ministry employees.
My issue is about the injustices, bullying and harassment I had to face at the Ministry since November 2023.
— Shooza (@AishathShooza) October 4, 2024
Kindly please refrain from politicizing this and taking the focus away from the actual issue. Thank you.
She was speaking at a farewell meeting after the government decided to transfer the Ministry's "elderly department" under the Health Ministry's mandate.
Shooza, who joined the Ministry in 2007 as a Counsellor Trainee back when it was known as the Gender Ministry, said in the video that the Ministry interfered with her work without justified reason.
"By December 2023, without any valid reason, I was stripped of all my duties, removed from the committees I was a part of at the Ministry, and even removed as HOD (head of department) and banned from entering the ministry's senior staff meetings, [subsequently] being transferred as a regular case worker," Shooza said.
"I requested an appointment to clarify [why this happened] without any excuse, without any reason. I didn't even get an appointment."
According to Shooza, she is not the only one subjected to this treatment. Several other employees of the Ministry are also in a similar plight, she said.
When asked by Mihaaru news, the Ministry said that the Elderly Department and all employees there are being transferred to the Ministry of Health as per President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's decision.
"Those employees work very closely with the service provision and case management of the centre for people with special needs established in Guraidhoo. Since the department's staff were most involved in the work, shifting the Ministry so that the employees remain doing the work will ensure continued services of the centre," the Ministry further said.
The Ministry also responded to Shooza's claims.
"No employee has been terminated with this decision, and no such coercion has been exerted on any staff," the Ministry said.
While an employee of the Family Development Ministry has levelled allegations of discrimination against the ministry, CSC is also looking into complaints received alleging that Athika Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage has been harassing and bullying members of staff. A petition regarding this issue was submitted to the CSC yesterday with signatures of 22 members of staff of the ministry.
CSC President Naseeh said that the investigation is currently still ongoing.
Minister of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage, Adam Naseer Ibrahim and Athika have denied such allegations. During the press conference held last month, Minister Naseer said that Athika is a very diligent, hardworking staff of the ministry. He said the issue of Athika has not been formally lodged and escalated to him.
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