Maldives Health Professionals Union (MHPU) has reiterated its call for overtime pay for health workers who are required to work beyond their official hours.
In a statement, MHPU expressed deep concern over the ongoing issue, noting that government health workers are not being compensated for extra hours worked.
This violates international treaties to which the Maldives is a party, the union said.
Under the new salary structure implemented in May 2023, overtime pay has been capped at 10 percent of an employee's basic salary. Previously, overtime was paid for all hours worked beyond official duty hours.
However, the union said that the current framework does not reflect the realities of the healthcare sector, where the number of staff is insufficient compared to the demand for services.
The union said that the new pay framework contradicts the Employment Act, which mandates overtime compensation. It also warns that if overtime is not paid, health workers should not be expected to work beyond the 10 percent overtime cap, calling such practice "forced labor without pay."
MHPU filed a formal complaint with the Labor Relations Authority on June 8, 2023, and was informed that working beyond official hours without overtime pay is unlawful.
The union has urged the government to revise the regulation, and said that health workers continue to work six hours, six days a week to provide uninterrupted 24-hour services, even during the last 10 days Ramadan.
The union has called for implementation of overtime payments in accordance with the Employment Act and back payments for unpaid overtime since May 2023.