Yesterday's meeting of the Parliament's Committee on Security Services meeting on proposed amendments including fining employers negligent towards expatriates by MVR 50,000 became heated, with the votes being split equally in favour and against.
Yesterday's meeting of the Parliament's Committee on Security Services meeting on proposed amendments including fining employers negligent towards expatriates by MVR 50,000 became heated, with the votes being split equally in favour and against.
Ultimately, the deciding vote had to be cast by Committee Chair and renowned retail businessman Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem. With his vote, the amendments were passed at committee stage.
In yesterday's meeting, four MPs from ruling People's National Congress (PNC) voted in favour of the amendment. These are;
1. Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid
2. Kaashidhoo MP Munthasim Ibrahim
3. Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Azaan
4. Kelaa MP Ibrahim Shareef
All MPs who protested against this amendment which would hold employers liable for being neglectful of the rights of expatriate workers are involved in major businesses in the country. All these companies also employ a large number of expatriate workers. These MPs are;
1. Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim
2. North Maafannu MP Mohamed Nazim
3. Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa
4. Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Moosa
Saleem, who cast the deciding vote in favour of the amendments, is himself also the owner of a large retail business in the Maldives. His company, too, employs many expatriate workers.
Gasim and Ghafoor protested strongly against the amendment even during yesterday's meeting.
Gasim said that laws like this should not be passed to make citizens 'go broke'.
Ghafoor backed Gasim's stand, stating that a blanket fine of this amount for every transgression would result in causing hardship to those involved in such businesses.
Hannan also appealed to introduce a range for the fine, to be decided based on the severity of the offence.
Government aligned MPs in the Committee disagreed. They said that the intention behind this amendment is not to cause loss to any persons, but rather to solve the 'expatriate issues' faced by the country, even if through taking strict action.
A final decision on the amendment will be made through a vote in Parliament chambers, although it has not been placed on agenda as of yet.
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