Fayyaz calls on Nasheed to expedite passage of worker rights bills

Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail has stressed the need to expedite the passage and implementation of two government bills related to the rights of workers, which have been sent to the Parliament.

Fayyaz made the remark in a tweet on Tuesday morning, in which he tagged Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.

“Industrial Relations Bill and Occupational Safety Bill are crucial to protection of the rights of workers as well as the economy,” he said.

Fayyaz said that it is “absolutely necessary to set the bills in the agenda, debate, and pass them”, adding that it was “as important as resolutions”.

His remark took aim at multiple resolutions MPs loyal to Nasheed have submitted to the Parliament in recent weeks, calling on the government to fulfill its pledges.

The Industrial Relations Bill was submitted to the Parliament by Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef (Mavota). The Parliament has held the first reading on the bill, and is set to begin the preliminary debate.

The 13-chapter bill sets down the legal framework for unionization.

Meanwhile, the Occupational Safety Bill was submitted to the Parliament by Baarah MP Ahmed Abdulla. The bill seeks to impose heavy penalties for negligence in ensuring safety of laborers.