MDP submits emergency motion alleging wrongful dismissal of Fenaka employees

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s parliamentary group has filed an emergency motion claiming that Fenaka Corporation’s employees are being wrongfully dismissed.

The emergency motion, submitted by Central Fuvahmulah MP Hussain Mohamed at Tuesday’s parliamentary sitting, condemned the dismissal of Fenaka employees based across the Maldives undertaking various services by the current administration at the instructions of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Claiming that the current administration was wrongfully dismissing Fenaka employees, it was urged in the emergency motion to bring a halt to this.

The motion was accepted following which members began their debate on it.

The biggest concern raised by MDP members in the motion was the current administration’s “theft of jobs” from a number of people. The members, citing President Muizzu had assured no one will be dismissed from their jobs before he assumed office, criticized the president citing his words and actions no longer align. They also called on the government to halt the dismissals.

While members were debating on the motion – Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thoriq (Tom), who represents the government, took a point of order, in which he stated Fenaka did not bear such a huge debt at the end of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s administration in 2018. He stressed that Fenaka now has MVR 3 billion in debt, while MDP members go on about the dismissals.

MP Thoriq, noting that the “dismissed” employees are hired on a contract basis for specific purposes such as the development of powerhouses, explained that their contractual obligations will conclude once the specific project is complete.  

During the debate, North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahumy who represents The Democrats, alleged that the jobs in Fenaka have been created for political purposes, to “buy” the families of the employees and to secure votes. He added that the downturns of this is now being experienced by those families.

“Over 7,000 jobs have been given from Fenaka. The people are now suffering from the downturns of something which was done to win the presidential election,” he had said.

Meanwhile, Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir who spoke during the debate reported that he had received information confirming no employees from Fenaka have been dismissed. Describing the opposition’s allegations as false, he said the allegations were being made to trigger public unrest.

“If they had a sincere motive, they will submit the corrupt activities of the company here, and probe these matters,” he added.

As per the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB), Fenaka has the greatest number of employees in a state-owned company with over 7,000 employees.

The company’s debt has increased to MVR 3 billion at the conclusion of the last administration.