Health workers concerned due to unpaid overtime

Concerns have been raised stating that the worries of workers in the health industry was not factored into the government's decision on issuing allowances to employees assuming work on the last ten days of Ramadan to provide services essential to the people following the designation of this period as a public holiday.

A statement released by the Maldives Health Professionals Union (MHPU) remarked that health workers are mandated to work without due remittance in violation of the new payment framework implemented by the State which stipulates the manner in which overtime allowances must be disbursed for employees of the health industry as well.

They Union's statement highlighted that health workers are required to work longer hours than fits 10 percent of their basic salary despite the framework clearly specifying that these employees cannot be subjected to work hours that exceeds this determined percentage. The Union had declared that these long hours of unpaid overtime mandated over health workers breaches the Employment Act as well as the international treaties signed by Maldives.

"The issue is forcing overtime and not being provided enough time to rest after working 14-16 hours without any wages. These are things that affect both the worker and the service." said Fathimath Zimna, the General Secretary of Maldives Health Protection Union.

Zimna asserted that while the President had determined allowances to be issued to employees that assume work amid the last ten days of Ramadan that are established as holidays, these allowances does not incorporate policies on the rightful payments warranted for unpaid overtime, further declaring that this issue had not been taken into account at all.

She maintained that the new framework drafted in 2023 on remittance and attendance allowances issued for non-working days are procedures that were added through the negotiations held by the Union. Highlighting that it marks no changes to the allowances received since May 1, 2023, she stressed that this framework was in no way formulated uniquely for the month of Ramadan.

"These are the allowances received even at present for working on holidays. Our concern is mandating work that exceeds 10 percent [of basic remuneration] in violation of the procedures declared in the new pay framework. And not issuing any payment for such overtime work. The President has not brought forward any solution for this in the government's circular," Zimna reiterated.

She further emphasized that the Maldives Health Protection Union will constantly advocate for a secure work-life balance for employees and that the best approach is to ascertain that employees are able to spend time with their family after working overtime hours in conformity of the 10 percent of the basic stipend standard.

Zimna asserted that with the shortage of health workers in the country, the employees of this sector are forced to work longer hours that exceeds 10 percent of their basic earnings and declared that what must be done by the government is to resolve the problem of overtime payments not being issued for such mandated overtime work.