Tourism Employees Association of the Maldives (TEAM) has stated that most resort employees have not been given their Ramadan allowances.
TEAM stated that even with the start of Ramadan nearing, most of the resorts had not disbursed Ramadan Allowance. TEAM noted most of these resorts were owned and managed by Maldivian companies.
TEAM General Secretary MauroofZakir reported yesterday that every year almost all resort workers were not paid their allowances prior to the deadline set in the laws. However, Mauroof stated that most resorts would make arrangements for the Allowance one way or the other.
The changes made to Ramadan allowance, which had standardized the Ramadan allowance to MVR 3,000, will only come into effect for private employees only from next year on ward. Therefore, resort employees will receive their Ramadan allowances based on the older guidelines, which calls for an allowance that is one third of the basic salary. If one third of the allowance is lesser than MVR 2000, the employee will earn MVR 2,000 as the allowance. If one third of the salary is more than MVR 10,000, then the employee will earn MVR 10,000 as the allowance.
The law states that all employees should receive the allowance before the start of Ramadan. If the resorts fail to meet the deadline, the resort would be liable to pay an amount between MVR 5,000 and MVR 50,000 as penalties.
This year’s Ramadan is to start next Thursday.
Most resorts have not given Ramadan allowance: TEAM
