Member of Parliament for Naifaru constituency and opposition People's Progressive Party (PPM)'s Vice President Ahmed Shiyam has voiced concern over the appointment of foreign individuals to senior positions of state-owned enterprises.
Shiyam tweeted his concerns after Maldives Airports Company (MACL) appointed an Indian citizen to a senior position of the company. In his tweet, he stated that he was concerned due to the increased appointment of foreign individuals, specifically a certain country’s citizens to highly paid positions of state-owned enterprises while unemployment among Maldivians have risen and while there are capable and well-educated Maldivians who can fill these slots.
MACL has appointed an Indian citizen as the director of Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT). The current Managing Director and CEO of MACL is also a foreign individual. Preferring foreigners over Maldivians for jobs at state-owned companies and resorts have increased since President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih assumed office.