Adhadhu understands that employees terminated from State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) are being reinstated after signing as members of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).
Numerous employees dismissed from SOEs have secured their jobs again by joining the PNC through their respective constituency Members of Parliament and senior government officials.
Furthermore, reports indicate that employees who were already affiliated with the PNC at the time of their dismissal are also being reinstated to their positions.
On August 31, President Mohamed Muizzu announced that over 6,000 employees would be terminated as part of an ongoing "rightsizing" initiative. He said that this process would reduce the total SOE workforce to levels lower than when his administration took office.
"God willing, by the time the current rightsizing process is complete, the number of staff reduced will exceed 6,000—surpassing the number of new hires. Based on current calculations, this means the total headcount will be lower than what it was when we took over," he claimed.
While the government continues to dismiss a large number of employees from SOEs without prior notice, it has been observed that the majority of those terminated are affiliated with the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
The MDP previously alleged that the government plans to terminate 14,733 employees from SOEs, a move they estimate will impact more than 50,000 people.
A circular issued by the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) stated that the 33 percent reduction in staff is part of a policy to ensure company workforces are maintained at appropriate levels.
Citing a circular issued on April 18, the PCB has instructed all state-owned companies to achieve this target within three months, effective from July 13.
The PCB has decided to closely monitor how companies implement this decision. According to the circular, all SOEs are required to submit weekly updates every Sunday regarding changes to their staff numbers.
