More young people needed in workforce to retain foreign currency: Youth Minister

It is important for every young person to be part of the work force for Maldives to retain its foreign currency, Minister of Youth and Sports Mohamed Maleeh Jamal has said.

Youth Minister made the remarks the conclusion event of the first leg of the Skills, Training and Apprenticeship Program (STEP) held at Nasandhura Palace Hotel today.

“We have a culture of not going to work fostering among us, because there are arrangements to live carefree. This is indeed distressing. If we are to retain, hold and keep foreign currency and build Maldivian industries, every young Maldivian person must work,” Youth Minister Maleeh Jamal said.

He also noted that resorts hire foreign talent due to lack of skilled local workers and stressed the need for young Maldivians to seek experience and training.

Certificates to participants of the first leg of STEP program was handed over by Maafannu-South MP Abdulla Rifau. STEP program, conducted jointly with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education and 10 different tourist resorts, kicked off with 32 participants in February 2013 and ended with 23 participants this months.

Partner resorts for the STEP program are; Anantara, Conrad Maldives, Constance Halaveli, Reethi Rah Resort, Summer Island Village, Embudu Village, Mookai, Vivanta by Taj, and the Beach House Iruveli.