Pres announces scholarship scheme to train locals for top resort jobs

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Tuesday announced a scholarship scheme to train Maldivians to work in senior positions in resorts.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Mahchangolhi ward in Male on Tuesday evening, the president said that the government is exploring ways to train Maldivians for senior positions in the tourism sector and increase the weekly leave given to resort employees to two days.

During the campaign, the president met with resort employees and heard many stories from them. He said their biggest concern was the presence of foreigners in senior positions in the resorts.

"We have now decided to create a scholarship scheme to train people from general managers to accountants of resorts as soon as possible," he said, adding that the government will provide scholarships to the tourism industry, including higher level jobs.

Among the requests made by the senior employees of the resorts, the president further mentioned that the working hours should be reduced and the laws should be amended to provide two days of leave instead of one day a week.

"I met a lot from senior management. They said they were very satisfied with the minimum wage and the overtime and other things," he said, noting that they had offered suggestions for further improvements.

"One of the things they proposed was to set up an advisory committee in the tourism ministry. It would include employees, resort owners, tour operators, and so on, to plan ways to develop the industry."

The proposal will be forwarded to and an advisory committee will be formed in the tourism ministry, he said.

“Secondly, they proposed to reduce the current 48 hours a week to 40 hours and [make] two days off in a week,” he said.

The president said the government would consult with resort owners to make this happen.

Meanwhile, the president has decided to reserve 300 flats for tourism sector employees under the Gedhoruveriya scheme, which has been announced open for application now.