Amendment Bill to Employment Act sent to committee

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

ma300jlisThe People’s Majlis yesterday sent to the Majlis committee the amendment Bill proposed by Kendikolhudhoo constituency member Ahmed Easa to amend the Employment Act. These amendments were sent to the economic affairs committee.

According to Eesa, the purpose of submitting this amendment bill to the Employment Act was to because the present Act did not appropriately protect the rights of the employer and the employees. He added that the amendments were proposed after much research and study into the present employment condition in the country.

One of the amendments proposed by Eesa was to fix Ramadan bonus at Mrf 2,000 and exclude non-Muslim workers from this allowance. The spirit of the amendment was to give Ramadan allowances to all Muslims in a non discriminatory and an equal manner.

Most of the members who participated in the debate session supported the proposal to fix the same amount for Ramadan allowances for everyone but pointed out that expatriates who were Muslims should be given the allowance.

Other amendments proposed by Eesa include strengthening the procedure to give termination notices, break times for prayer and medical leave.

Most members who spoke during the debate session agreed that with the passing of these amendments the Employment Act, the rights of the employees will be further protected.

Some other members pointed out that the Bill was far too one sided and provided too much benefit to employees. Some members criticized that fining the employer with Mrf 50,000 for employing people without an employment contract, was not acceptable. Members also pointed out that the Bill favored employees in the tourism sector.

The Bill was voted to be sent to the economic committee of the Majlis with the support of 18 members from the 31 who attended yesterday’s session. 13 members voted against it and 5 abstained.

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