Employees of the Maldives Broadcasting Commission walked out of work on Wednesday to protest against unfair treatment.
The protest came after employees submitted a petition to the parliament accusing the commissioners of violating laws and regulations.
Following the petition, the commission's Secretary General Mariyam Zeeniya was suspended for 96 hours.
A Broadcom employee told Raajje TV that the commissioners do not trust employees and were treating them unfairly.
“The problem is that there is too much suspicion. They think we will not be loyal and honest to them. We will stand together with honesty and loyalty. We have not protested like this over the past 14 years," the employee stated.
The employees also said the suspension of the Secretary General was unfair, similar to how another employee was reprimanded previously.
Broadcom is accountable to the parliament's Independent Institutions Committee.
The petition from Broadcom employees was submitted through Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu). The issues raised in the petition are;
- The commission's President and members have been obstructing the duties of employees
- Forcing employees to work in a way that conflicts with the Finance Rules
- Pressuring employees to work overtime without pay
- The employee who faced sexual harassment from the former Vice President of the commission was "double-victimised" by being transferred department and isolated from duties
- Disrespecting the head of administrative management
- Seeking to influence the decisions of the standing committees
- Cut off access to some employees and threaten dismissal
- Threatening dismissal based on the appearance of an employee
- Instruct the HR department to take action against the employees in violation of the Rules of Procedure and dismiss a particular employee without completing the procedures
- Not accepting the decisions of the HR department
- Political influence on the work of the Secretary-General
- Continue to influence the management
- Questioning the integrity of employees
- Influencing rights under the Whistleblower Protection Act
- Spying on employees and administrative leaders
The petition asked the parliament's Independent Institutions Committee to ensure that the commissioners comply with the laws and regulations.
The current members of Broadcom are Safa Shafeeq (President), Mohamed Abdulla, Aminath Ameena, Aminath Sarahath Izzath, Aminath Nuzuha, Shifla Ibrahim and Moosa Rilwan.
