Day: July 23, 2014

MACL staff protest discrimination in annual bonus

An estimated 150 employees of the state-owned Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) demonstrated over discrimination in bonus payouts today.

The protests started on Tuesday morning after leaked documents indicated senior management and an estimated 200 staff members working at the duty free shops were to receive a percentage of profits while other employees were only to receive an amount equivalent to their basic salaries.

Speaking to Minivan News, a staff members who took part in the protests said senior staff and duty free staff were to receive up to MVR80,000 (US$5188) while most staff members were to receive between MVR6000 (US$389) and MVR15000 (US$972).

“Around 1900 employees are to receive an amount equivalent to their basic salaries, which comparatively is a very low amount. Their [management] justification is that duty free employees reached a profit target. But there are others who work as hard, and earn the company as much money in other departments,” she said.

A handful of senior level employees in some departments would receive between MVR25,000 and MVR50,000 (US$1621 – US$3242), she said.

“This is a huge difference, a huge discrimination which is against the company’s general human resource policy. Most of us are giving our hundred percent to the company, and our work brings in as much money as the duty free staff,” the protesting staff member said.

The demonstrations were peaceful and not intended to obstruct airport operations in the airport, she continued.

“We stood up for our rights, we are not against the management nor did we have any intention to obstruct the operations here. We were demanding an explanation.”

Managing Director of MACL, Ibrahim ‘Bandhu’ Saleem, met the protesters yesterday and told them the company board will hold discussions and reach a decision on the matter as soon as possible.

In response, protesters today demanded a deadline for the decision. Subsequently, the company issued a circular stating that bonus payouts will be revised and a decision will be made before August 31. The circular was changed a second time to specifically mention that the issue will be resolved in an equitable manner on the protesters’ demands.

An MACL spokesman told Minivan News today that the leaked document was not an official one and no decisions have been made yet over the distribution of bonuses.

“The management have discussed the issue with the protesting staff members now and it is settled. Everyone has gone back to work. It all started with a leaked document, which is not final in anyway. The bonus amounts would be announced before August 31,” he said.

The decision to grant annual bonus to employees was made after a staff members protested its discontinuation in March. At the time the employees also raised the issue of the poor quality of food provided at the staff cafeteria.

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Civil Court protects ballot secrecy in JSC lawyer election

The Civil Court has ruled against setting up polling mechanisms on every inhabited island to elect a representative from the legal community to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), arguing the move would violate the secrecy of the ballot.

A regulation compiled by Attorney General (AG) Mohamed Anil states ballot boxes can only be placed in islands where more than five lawyers are registered to vote. However, Gaaf Dhaal Fiyori Island Magistrate Abdul Razzak Mohamed asked the court to annul the requirement and asked for a voting mechanism to be established on every island.

An estimated 700 lawyers are eligible to vote in the election. These include 136 magistrates stationed throughout the Maldives.

Judge Ali Rasheed Hussein on Tuesday said the regulations require the vote to be by secret ballot and said voting mechanisms on every island, where only one lawyer casts the vote, would compromise secrecy.

Mohamed had lodged the complaint a day ahead of polls on July 13. Subsequently, the Civil Court issued an injunction delaying the vote.

Former Deputy Prosecutor General and JSC candidate Hussein Shameem who has long criticised judicial interference in the election has welcomed the Civil Court verdict.

“The verdict yesterday proves the Fiyori magistrate had no case. He has caused an undue delay to the process. An election involves the rights of a group of people, not just one individual. I hope the courts consider this in the future and that there are no more delays,” he said.

The Attorney General’s Office has said a new poll date will be announced in August.

Despite ruling against polling systems on every island, the Civil Court said the AG had contravened procedures in the voter registration process. The regulations state eligible voters must be given a four day period for registration once polling date is announced.

However, the call for registration came before the finalised voter list was published, the ruling said.

Magistrate Mohamed did not attend the hearing. But Judge Hussein delivered the ruling in absentia on the wishes of the AG’s office. Judges are authorised to throw out complaints if the complainant fails to attend a hearing.

Four candidates are contesting in the vote. They are Hussein Shameem, Anas Abdul Sattar, Mohamed Faisal, and Latheefa Qasim.

Lawyer Mohamed Fareed withdrew his name on July 10, expressing concern over judicial interference in the election following the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing all licensed lawyers, including sitting MPs and judges, to vote in the election.

“The belief that an election in the Maldives may proceed without Supreme Court interference is against the facts, reality. This is the reality now,” he said at a press conference.

Had voting mechanisms been set up on every island, magistrates would have been forced to vote for the judiciary-backed candidate Latheefa Qasim, he suggested.

Latheefa is a public relations staff at the Department of Judicial Administration and served on the JSC for a year as former President Dr Mohamed Waheed’s appointee to the commission. Latheefa did not respond to calls at the time of press.

Meanwhile, former AG Husnu Suood has accused businessmen and judges of influencing the JSC lawyer election, suggesting Latheefa is backed by Jumhooree Party leader Gasim Ibrahim.

“We have to do a lot to protect the integrity and independence of the legal profession. We, lawyers, can only uphold independence and integrity of the legal profession if we minimise the influence of judges and businessmen in such elections. I think businessmen actively influencing and actively campaigning for individuals who stand for the election obstructs the independence of both the judiciary and the legal profession,” he said.

Suood has also accused the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives of attempting to fix the composition of the new JSC.

Although he is skeptical of reform through the commission, Suood urged lawyers to back Shameem in order to ensure transparency within the JSC.

“If there is a single effective candidate, I believe they can give us information and work to make the JSC more transparent. There is a huge difference between one person being there and none being there,” he said.

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MPs clash over amendments to Human Rights Commission Act

Pro-government MPs clashed with MPs of former coalition partner Jumhooree Party (JP) and opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) today over amendments proposed to the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) Act of 2006.

During debate on the government-sponsored amendments, JP MP for Dhagethi, Ilham Ahmed, objected to giving powers to the HRCM to suspend employees of state institutions for two weeks for not complying with the commission’s orders.

The proposed amendment to Article 26(b) of the HRCM Act also confers the authority to impose a fine of between MVR3,000 (US$195) and MVR25,000 (US$1,621) for non-compliance.

The JP deputy leader contended that the powers could be misused to either arbitrarily fine or “bring into disrepute” a state employee over “simple matters,” adding that HRCM members would be “under the control” of the majority party in parliament.

Some members of independent commissions have “for sale boards on them,” he alleged, and could be bribed to issue reports.

Responding to the criticism, Majority Leader Ahmed Nihan noted that the existing law empowers the HRCM to place individuals under house arrest for three months over non-compliance with orders.

Moreover, the commission has the authority to dismiss employees of state institutions for non-compliance.

Attempts to mislead the public were “regrettable” as the government’s intention was to “provide relief”, said the Progressive Party of Maldives’ (PPM) parliamentary group leader.

The amendments (Dhivehi) were submitted on behalf of the government at today’s sitting of parliament by PPM MP Jaufar Daood.

The purpose of the legislation was to bring the HRCM law in line with the new constitution adopted in August 2008, he said.

Some provisions in the HRCM law – enacted two years before the ratification of the new constitution – conflicted with articles 189 through 198 of the constitution, which specifies the responsibilities and powers of the commission, Daood said.

During the debate, PPM MP Saud Hussain argued that the current administration inherited the task of amending laws for adherence to the new constitution as the previous parliament failed to do so during the past five years.

Opposition MPs, however, contended that the then-opposition parties used their provisional majority in parliament to obstruct the MDP government.

The amendments to the HRCM Act are among a number of bills drafted by the Attorney General’s Office to bring outdated laws in line with the new constitution.

The current administration’s the legislative agenda is comprised of  207 bills, including 98 new bills and 109 amendments to existing laws.

During today’s debate, JP MP for Kendhoo, Ali Hussain, meanwhile contended that parliament and not the executive should decide among candidates who apply for HRCM membership.

The president should not have “all the powers” to decide whom to appoint as members of the HRCM, he added.

PPM MP Ali Shah noted, however, that the Majlis had the authority to reject nominees forwarded by the president for parliamentary consent.

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PPM MP Ibrahim Riza elected to represent Majlis on JSC

Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) MP for Kaafu Guraidhoo, Ibrahim Riza, has been elected at today’s sitting of parliament to represent the People’s Majlis on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Riza’s nomination was approved with 47 votes in favour and 27 against. Riza was nominated by Majority Leader Ahmed Nihan and seconded by PPM MP Jameel Usman.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party had decided to back Jumhooree Party MP Ali Hussain for the post.

The JSC is comprised of the Speaker of the People’s Majlis, a Supreme Court Justice elected by the bench, a High Court judge elected by the judges of the High Court, a judge of the lower courts elected by the judges of the lower courts, an MP elected by parliament, a member of the public appointed by parliament, a presidential appointee, the attorney general, president of the civil service commission and a lawyer elected from among licensed legal practitioners.

Also at today’s sitting, PPM MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim was appointed as the parliament’s representative on the Clemency Board with 48 votes in favour and 29 votes against.

PPM MP Ahmed Rasheed was meanwhile appointed as the parliament’s representative to a coordinating committee created under the anti-human trafficking law passed last year.

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Majlis accepts two government-sponsored bills for further review

The People’s Majlis yesterday accepted two pieces of legislation submitted on the behalf of the government and sent the bills to committee for further review.

An amendment proposed by Progressive Party of Maldives MP Abdulla Rifau to a 1976 law governing mandatory national service for students of public schools as well as private schools operating with state financial assistance was accepted unanimously with 75 votes.

Amendments to the Lagan, Derelict, Flotsam and Jetsam Ownership Act of 1998 was meanwhile accepted with 67 votes in favour and one against. The amendment bill was sent to the economic affairs committee for further review.

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Parliament endorses nominees for four diplomatic posts

The People’s Majlis approved four nominees of President Abdulla Yameen to top diplomatic posts at yesterday’s sitting following evaluation by the national security committee.

All four nominees were endorsed with unanimous consent of all MPs in attendance.

Dr Mohamed Asim, of Galolhu Vaijeheyge, was approved as non-resident high commissioner to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh while Ahmed Shian, of Galolhu Samantha, was appointed ambassador of Maldives to Belgium and the European Union, and non-resident high commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Fathmath Inaya, of Manchangoalhi Resting House, was approved as non-resident high commissioner of Maldives to Singapore and Abdulla Hameed, of Maafanu Crescent Wood, was approved as the non-resident ambassador of Maldives to United Arab Emirates and the State of Kuwait.

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