Parliament representative for Maduvvari constituency Adam Shareef has criticized the inclusion of accommodation and food in the minimum wage.
Adam Shareef tweeted that including accommodation and food allowances in minimum wage is unjust. He informed Dhiyares that he received information that the Salaries and Wage Advisory Board (SAWAB) was planning to include accommodation allowance and food allowance as part of minimum wage.
The MP declared that food for resort employees is arranged by the resorts they work for. As of now, that is cooked food. If the allowance is given in cash, employees may be able to save.
Including basic needs in minimum wage is inadequate, and minimum wage is a worker's right, said Adam Shareef.
Highlighting that workers do not wish for accommodation and food to be included in the minimum wage, MP Shareef called for the government to uphold workers' rights.
One of the Maldives Democratic Party's (MDP) campaign promises during the 2018 presidential election and the 2019 parliamentary election was establishing and enforcing minimum wage. However, a large population of the workforce has expressed concern regarding minimum wage still not being established, and delays to do so.