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SIMDI Didi promises to pay his workers, even if he needs to dip into his savings

Ibrahim Mohamed Didi (SIMDI Didi), the Chairman of SIMDI Group.

While many tourism businesses in Maldives have already begun laying off employees and imposing pay cuts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ibrahim Mohamed Didi, the Chairman of SIMDI Group, promises to keep the thousands of his employees paid, even if he needs to dip into his own savings.

SIMDI Group is one of the largest private sector employers in Maldives. It engages in a wide range of business including resort management, resort supply, restaurant management, health services, and trade of fast moving consumer goods.

In a statement on his Facebook account on Wednesday, Didi expressed appreciation for the contribution of his employees

He noted that many businesses had begun imposing pay cuts, and provided assurance that his own employees would be paid their full salaries.

“I told SIMDI Group management to operate normally and pay full salaries on time. If our business cannot sustain, I will dip into my savings,” he said.

Didi added that the wellbeing of his employees was his top priority.

“Thanks a million for what you are doing. For me employees are the most important. Without you we have no organization,” he said.

Didi’s reassurance to his employees has been praised by many, who hailed him as an example to other business owners.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the many travel restrictions in place on tourist arrivals to prevent and contain an outbreak of the virus in Maldives has resulted a severe impact on the Maldivian economy – which is heavily dependent on its tourism industry.

13 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives, all of whom are foreign nationals who were either working or vacationing in resorts or safaris.

Maldives, on March 12, announced a 30-day state of public health emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since taken multiple measures aimed at containing and preventing a potential outbreak, along with mitigating the economic downfall.

Some of the cost-cutting measures imposed include a 20 percent pay cut on political appointees, parliamentarians, other elected officials, independent appointees, and directors of state-owned enterprises.

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