Environment Ministry employees raise concern over termite infestation to President

Employees of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment have submitted a petition to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, raising concerns over a termite infestation in their temporary office building at Dharubaaruge.

The ministry was relocated to Dharubaaruge after a fire damaged the Green Building, which previously housed the Environment Ministry and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

However, employees say the current premises are infested with termites, causing significant discomfort and health issues.

The petition, a copy of which has also been sent to the Parliament, Human Rights Commission (HRC), and the Labor Relations Authority, is now circulating on social media. A staff member confirmed its authenticity.

According to the petition, termites often crawl onto employees and their work equipment during office hours. Some employees are reportedly experiencing allergic reactions due to termite bites.

In addition to the infestation, the employees raised complaints about the poor quality of chairs and tables provided in the Dharubaaruge facility, making it difficult to work comfortably causing some employees to seek physiotherapy.

The petition points out that these issues are in violation of workers' rights as outlined in the “Workplace Safety and Health Protection Act,” which was ratified by the President on April 2 last year

Employees also expressed frustration that, despite President Muizzu’s visit to the temporary office and his assurances to resolve the issues six months ago, no meaningful improvements have been made. They urged immediate action to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.