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Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail and Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed at the "Viyavathi Maldives" seminar on December 16, 2019. Photo/President's Office

Fayyaz urges parliament to expedite 2 labour rights bills

Since the beginning of the second term of the parliament, motions moved by various members of the parliament has been going on in full swing.

30 May 2023

By Mariyam Umna Ismail

Economic minister Fayyaz Ismail on Tuesday urged the parliament to expedite the work on two important labour rights bills.

Fayyaz made the request in a tweet tagging speaker Mohamed Nasheed.

"The Industrial Relations and Occupational Safety Bill are two bills that are important for protecting the rights of workers and protecting the economy," he said. 

Fayyaz said he felt it was necessary to debate and pass the bills as well at the pace with which emergency motions were being attended to in the parliament. 

"It is imperative that this agenda is discussed and passed, as important as motions," he said.

Since the beginning of the second term of the parliament, motions moved by various members of the parliament has been going on in full swing. 

Parliamentary process

  • When the government moves a bill in parliament, the first reading of the bill will be conducted

  • Preliminary debate should begin within seven days of the first reading

  • At the end of the debate, a vote on the acceptance of the bill should be taken and it should be referred to a committee concerned

  • The bill will be put to vote for passage only after the committee reviews it, sends its report to the parliament and discusses the committee's report on the floor

Occupation Safety Bill

The bill, which was introduced in parliament in November, has been in the committee stage since March 14.

Key points of the bill: 

  • Develop basic rules to ensure that the workplace is safe for workers and others involved

  • Develop safety protocols for workplace diseases and potential hazards from that environment

  • Develop a system that allows workers to have a say in their decision-making and problem-solving issues related to their safety

  • Develop a system where workplace accidents and injuries can be reported, cases can be investigated and compensated

Industrial Relations Bill

The preliminary debate on the bill began on April 26. Since the debate that day, parliament has not worked on the bill.

Key points of the bill:

  • Lay down the procedures to be followed for the formation, registration and dissolution of labour trade unions

  • Instil a robust mechanism for resolving disputes between workers and employers through dialogue

  • A mechanism to hold those responsible for such actions accountable in cases where workers are deprived of their rights under the law.

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