Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir has accused the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board (PCB) of saying nothing while state-owned enterprises hired staff in bulk for political reasons ahead of recent elections.
Speaking at a panel discussion, the MDP MP said the PCB's order for SOEs to cut staff by 33 percent within three months is not structural reform. He said it is a scramble caused by an empty treasury that cannot meet the monthly payroll.
The opposition estimates 14,733 SOE employees face termination. More than 50,000 dependants and family members would be affected.
Mauroof said political recruits were warned before the council elections that their jobs were temporary campaign props, and that is now happening.
"Where was the PCB when these companies were packing their rosters full of unbudgeted staff? Now, after paying off immediate foreign debt obligations and loans, they have run out of money to pay basic staff salaries." Mauroof said.
He said using Pension Office money to pay civil service wages will expand the domestic rufiyaa supply, worsen the dollar shortage and push parallel market rates higher.
