Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim has called for the expedited processing of a bill aimed at preventing tourism industry employers from paying service charges to staff in Maldivian Rufiyaa when the payments are received in foreign currency.
The amendment to Section 52 of the Employment Act was proposed by Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir on behalf of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Despite being submitted in December 2025, the bill has seen little progress in Parliament.
In a letter sent yesterday, MP Mohamed Ibrahim shared concerns with Parliament regarding reports that several resorts are currently distributing service charges in local currency. The last time the bill proposed by MP Zakir was debated on the floor was in April.
If passed, the amendment would eliminate discrepancies in how service charges are distributed to tourism sector employees. It would legally mandate that service charges be paid to staff in the same currency in which they were collected from customers.
Amidst the ongoing dollar shortage in the Maldives, some resorts have shifted to paying service charges in Maldivian Rufiyaa. However, it is noted that these establishments continue to charge and collect service fees from tourists exclusively in US Dollars.
