Ministry of Economic Development has revealed the aim is to declare minimum wage before the end of the year.
The economic ministry said efforts are underway to declare a minimum wage by establishing an advisory board under Article 59 of the Employment Act of Maldives. The ministry said it is collecting information and conducting relevant surveys as part of the efforts to declare a minimum wage for the first time in Maldives. A road map has also been set as minimum wage is completely new to Maldives, according to the economic ministry.
Last May, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih formulated a board to counsel economic ministry on determining minimum wage. The five-member board formulated to counsel Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail on determining minimum wage consists of a representative of the government, two representatives on behalf of employers and two representatives on behalf of workers.
Economic ministry revealed the International Labour Organisation (ILO) provides technical assistance for the project. In this regard, the ministry said a workshop on minimum wage was held from by a delegation of ILO.
The economic ministry revealed during the workshop, information which should be collected from separate authorities were identified. The ministry stated ILO also delivered information on how a minimum wage is established in other countries. Moreover, efforts are underway to hold an enterprise survey to collect necessary information for the advisory board, according to the ministry.
Establishing a minimum wage is an electoral pledge of President Solih.