Afrons: No unpaid employees

Afcons Infrastructure – the Indian contractor awarded the project to develop the Thilamale’ Bridge has stated that the company has not failed to pay any of its employees.

Workers from Afcons on Saturday held a demonstration in K. Gulhifalhu a day after a large fire at the company’s accommodation block on the island left scores of workers injured.

Social media videos show a large crowd of workers gathered in Gulhifalhu in a demonstration. They raised concerns about irregular wages, soon after much of their belongings were burnt during the fire on Friday.

In a statement issued by Afcons on Sunday, it noted that the company has extended all necessary aid to every employee affected by the fire, including accommodation, clothing, mobile phones and financial assistance.

It was also said that the company gives utmost priority to the safety of its employees and provided assurance that safety will be ensured.

Gulhifalhu houses some 800 workers from Afcons, an Indian contractor awarded multiple projects in Maldives, including the Thilamale’ Bridge project.

The fire incident resulted in injuries to 76 workers. Moreover, Maldives Police Services have now confirmed to have found human remains at the site of the fire, amidst an ongoing search operation for the missing Afrons worker.

Out of the 76 people that sustained injuries – 63 people were treated at the Tree Top Hospital in Hulhumale’, while 13 were treated at the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’.

“They include six people who are seriously injured,” a police spokesperson said.