Maldives Health Professionals Union (MHPU) has raised strong concerns over the capping of overtime pay for healthcare workers under the state pay framework, calling for urgent reforms to ensure fair compensation.
In a statement issued today, the union highlighted that employees at the Ministry of Health and Malé Group of Hospitals are not receiving full overtime pay due to the monthly cap on allowances. The union criticized the continued enforcement of a 10% cap on overtime and called for its immediate removal.
The MHPU also demanded that:
- Overtime allowances be paid in full for all hours worked beyond regular duty.
- Workers be compensated according to the Employment Act for work done on government holidays.
- The practice of mandatory overtime outside official hours be brought to an end.
- All withheld overtime payments since May 1, 2023 be released immediately.
The union noted that the Civil Service Commission had previously warned that institutions forcing employees to work outside established standards would be held responsible. Despite this, the union claims that non-compliant practices persist, placing undue burden on frontline health workers.