President: Minimum wage is the greatest gift this Republic Day brings

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Wednesday that the benefits of a republic cannot be enjoyed unless workers are provided their rights, and that the declaration of a minimum wage was the government’s greatest gift for Republic Day this year. 

In his speech at the Republic Day function on Wednesday evening, President Solih said that it was of utmost importance that people are given a fair wage for the work they do for a happy and prosperous life. 

“But this remained unaccomplished for ages. The greatest gift this Republic Day brings is the government’s declaration of a minimum wage. The greatest right a worker is entitled to is a fair wage,” he said. 

President Solih said that workers will see positive changes once the minimum wage is implemented. 

“The greatest change, or the greatest positive, will be seen by the Maldivians who work in the tourism sector,” he said. 

President Solih said that his administration began work on declaring a minimum wage following extensive discussions, and had taken into consideration suggestions of both employees and employers. 

“The government considered the intrests and rights of employers and employees in setting a minimum wage. The government considered preventing businesses from going bankrupt when deciding on a minimum wage. Based on this, for the first time, a minimum wage has been declared. This is the best foundation that has been laid for the sake of workers in Maldivian history,” he said. 

Despite President Solih’s remark that the minimum wage will be of most benefit to tourism sector workers, workers in several resorts staged strikes in protest over the rate.