The Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has begun taking steps to support the government's efforts in combating economic losses in Maldives due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
As per the statement that has been released by MPL today, they brought about six changes on Tuesday to decrease expenditure.
Steps taken by MPL
- The shortening of work hours for administrative employees who do not work on a shift basis. Official working hours are to be from 7:30am to 2:00pm. Previously, their official working hours were 7:30am to 3:30pm.
- Working hours of operational shift workers to not exceed eight hours.
- All visits, excluding official and necessary visits outside of Maldives, are to be halted. MPL stated that even on visits where their expenses are covered by foreign parties on their visits outside of Maldives, they are to limit expenditure as much as possible, with meetings with foreign customers and suppliers to be held online.
- Training for employees that is being conducted in countries other than Maldives is to be temporarily stopped, with the employees to attend the programs online.
- To hold the 2026 Maldives Maritime Conference on a later date. The conference was to be held on 15th April but has been rescheduled to 5th October.
- Reducing electricity expenditure.
MPL has stated that even though they have decided that the working hours of operational shift workers are not to exceed eight hours, the working hours for unloading and clearing goods at the Male' Commercial Harbor will see no changes. MPL has also assured that those services will continue as they always have.
While MPL has taken steps to reduce costs, the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) has informed state-owned companies to take additional and major steps, so as to reduce economic expenditure due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
According to the circular that was released by the PCB last night, they had informed state-owned companies to take steps in reducing expenditure on 30th March as well. Along with that, the PCB's circular also shared additional major steps that are to be taken.
Those steps include halting employee promotions within the companies, to not onboard employees to positions that are not imperative to continued operation even though the positions have been included in the administrative framework, to make plans in such a way that work can be finished during official working hours and to not work outside of official working hours unless absolutely necessary.
The PCB has told state-owned companies to not hold ceremonies unless absolutely necessary, to halt foreign visits that are not absolutely required, to hold discussions regarding the economic impacts of the war in the Middle East and to take steps by taking into account the financial constraints that may be experienced by the public.
