Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the Industrial Relations Bill on Monday, January 02, 2024.
The bill was passed by the parliament at the 37th sitting of its third session held on Monday, December 18, 2023.
The bill outlines activities promoting the exercise of constitutional rights including the right to form trade unions and participation in, or abstinence from their activities and the parameters for such rights.
The bill further specifies the procedures in creating employee and employer trade unions, the procedures on resolving disputes between the said parties and other trade union-related details.
Under the newly ratified bill, the President is obligated to designate an individual to serve as a Registrar of Unions, which should be implemented within thirty days from the date of the bill’s ratification.
The Registrar of Unions manages and maintains employee and employer trade union registration, enforces legal and regulation measures against unions that breach laws and regulations, and fulfils all other responsibilities imposed on the registerer by the law.