Protests have erupted outside the Fenaka Corporation office in Hithadhoo, Addu City, following the dismissal of 189 employees from the state utility provider.
The demonstration includes Addu City Council members, the terminated staff, and concerned members of the general public.
The mass dismissals occurred abruptly on August 13, with employees reporting that they were terminated without any prior notice or warning.
Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar has alleged that the layoffs were carried out under the direction of three Members of Parliament representing Addu constituencies: Ahmed Azaan Marzooq, Ibrahim Didi (IB), and Ismail Nizar.
Speaking previously to Adhadhu, Mayor Nizar noted that those terminated were staff working below the supervisor level at Fenaka’s Addu operations.
Amid growing concerns over the job losses, a prominent Viber community group for Fenaka employees in Hithadhoo has been repurposed to advocate for the rights of the dismissed workers.
The group, which consists of over 4,000 members, saw its name changed by a super-admin to "Against the Unjust Dismissal of 189 Employees." The group’s display icon was also updated to an image encouraging the pursuit of labor rights.
The layoffs in Addu are part of a broader trend of staff reductions across State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) nationwide. Companies have cited a circular issued by the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) as the justification for these terminations.
The PCB directed SOEs to reduce their workforce by 33 percent last April. Critics have argued that this directive was a reactionary measure following the government’s poor performance in the local council elections and the constitutional referendum.
Following the directive, the PCB issued a circular on July 18, mandating that the 33 percent staff reduction be completed within a three-month window. According to the timeline set in the circular, the process must be finalized by October 13.
