Ithaafushi employees receive over MVR 50,000 as service charge in Jan

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, a resort island located in South Male’ Atoll, disbursed over MVR 50,000 as service charge to their employees in January.

Information released by Resort Workers Maldives show Ithaafushi employees received USD 3,370 as service charge this January, which amounts to MVR 51,502.8.

Ithaafushi was developed by Waldorf Astoria - a luxury brand run by leading global hotel chain Hilton. The resort, which recently opened Maldives’ largest private island, is popular among business magnates and celebrities.

Ithaafushi is not new to topping the list of resorts that pay the highest service charge to employees.

Behind Ithaafushi on the list of resorts that paid the highest service charge in January are One&Only Reethi Rah and Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas. One&Only Reethi Rah paid USD 3,007 (MVR 46,367.9) while Anantara Kihavah paid USD 2,097.4 (MVR 32,341.9).

A new amendment to Employment Act requiring for a minimum 10 percent service charge on all services provided by tourism sector businesses took effect on January 1. With the amendment, employers are required to disburse the money taken as service charge equally among all employees.

Service charge must be paid to all employees before the end of the subsequent month, and without any discrimination.