MP Ziyad: SOE layoffs used as cover for punishment over govt’s elections defeat

The initiative to reduce the number of employees at state-owned enterprises (SOEs) by 33 percent was initiated as punishment over the government’s defeat in the local council election held in April, alleges Hussain Ziyad (Fitte) the deputy leader of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s parliamentary group.

He made the allegation during parliamentary debate on a resolution submitted by fellow partyman, Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir, accusing the government of using layoffs as a cover for political retaliation.

During the debate on Tuesday, Ziyad admitted that appointments to SOEs had been high during the MDP administration, but said that it was even higher during the incumbent People’s National Congress (PNC) administration.

“However, Honorable Speaker, hirings by the incumbent administration from my own constituency is far higher. This is true of all constituencies of the country. The number of people recruited by Fenaka, especially, a company that is the most bankrupt, is far higher,” said the Vaikaradhoo representative.

Ziyad acknowledged that SOEs employ far more workers than they require, but alleged that the government’s motivations were far from pure.

“However, this is being done as punishment over defeat in elections. The government is dressing this up, as it dresses up all such matters, with fancy labels. Today, they are calling the lass layoff of employees as right-sizing,” he said.

Ziyad said that the initiative would result in the loss of jobs of thousands of people.

He said that this was the consequence of over hiring by consecutive Maldivian administrations.

It is ordinary citizens who are being made to bear the consequence, he said.

Ziyad accused the government of firing employees from SOEs without proper cause.

“All of this is linked directly with elections,” he said.

Ziyad said that the fact that the MDP administration also did wrong and engaged in over hiring does not does serve as justification for the PNC administration doing the same.

He said that the incumbent administration has already had two-and-a-half years to course-correct.

“But, failing to change it and then suddenly firing employees en masse after the results of the council elections came out is not something we will condone. This is unjustified cruelty towards the people,” he said.

The PNC administration insists that the initiative is part of efforts to cut costs. However, resolution, submitted by Mauroof back in June, says the initiative is being used as a cover to engage in political retaliation against employees who speak out against President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and his administration or attend MDP events.