22/06/2026
⚡️Job Losses During MDP Rule: Examining the Numbers
The two administrations of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have often been criticized for carrying out large scale dismissals from public employment, with critics arguing that these actions caused significant hardship for many individuals and families.
During the MDP administrations, a substantial number of employees lost their jobs following restructuring exercises and the abolition of positions in various state-owned enterprises. In the former utility company, now known as Fenaka Corporation, approximately 570 employees were dismissed after positions related to island powerhouses were abolished. At the Airport Company, 486 employees reportedly lost their jobs as a result of organizational restructuring. Similarly, 244 employees were dismissed from MTCC, while 280 employees were removed from MPL following the abolition of positions. Altogether, these measures resulted in around 1,580 employees losing their jobs.
Critics further argue that the dismissals extended beyond state-owned enterprises and affected many public servants serving in executive institutions. According to this view, a significant number of experienced civil servants were removed from key positions because they had originally been appointed during the administration of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. It has been alleged that one of the motivations behind these actions was to “clear state institutions of Maumoonism.”
Among those affected were individuals who had served the country for decades and who were widely regarded as highly qualified, experienced, and dedicated public servants. Many had received extensive professional training and had played leading roles in the development of state institutions and communities across the Maldives. Critics contend that these individuals represented the institutional memory and expertise of many government bodies.
Examples frequently cited include former Commissioner of Police Adam Zaahir, former Vice President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs Shaikh Ahmed Farooq Muhammad, and numerous Katheebs who had long served their communities. According to critics, many of these individuals were removed from their positions without adequate pension arrangements or transitional support.
Statistics from the Employment Tribunal also indicate that a considerable number of employment related disputes arose during MDP’s second administration. Tribunal records show that 200 cases relating to dismissals were submitted in 2019, 202 cases in 2020, 115 cases in 2021, and 108 cases in 2022, amounting to a total of 625 cases during this period. These figures represent only the cases formally submitted to the tribunal and may not reflect the full number of individuals affected.
Given the significance of these events, further research and documentation are needed to examine the circumstances surrounding these dismissals, assess whether due process was followed, and understand the long term impact on the affected individuals, their families, and the country’s public institutions.
