CSC Report Finds No Mistreatment of Employees at Social and Family Development Ministry, Says Minister

Minister of Social and Family Development Dr Aishath Shiham stated today that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) report on the ministry found no evidence of mistreatment of employees.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office this afternoon, Dr Aishath addressed concerns regarding the alleged mistreatment of ministry staff, as well as the political and technical pressures they face. She emphasised the importance of maintaining the ministry’s reputation, given the nature of its work with vulnerable members of society.

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“… as this ministry is the place where the citizens come to when they are most concerned, or when they are at their most vulnerable state, as this is the place where they come for aid,” she said in Dhivehi. 

Dr Aishath said that when rumours of mistreatment surfaced, she promptly requested the CSC to conduct an independent investigation to assess the validity of the claims.

“We asked for an independent [investigation], to clarify whether the ministry had gone against any regulations and also to to confirm whether any employee had been mistreated,” Minister Aishath said. “They said we had not gone against any regulations.”

During the press conference, Dr Aishath also provided updates on procedural changes and new initiatives undertaken by the ministry. She highlighted a shift in their approach to handling cases, moving from an individual-focused approach to a family-oriented one. This change has significantly reduced the caseload per worker from approximately 200 cases to about 60.

“We hope to decrease the number of cases to about 30,” Dr Aishath said.

The minister also spoke about efforts to create career opportunities for children under state care. She mentioned Ahmed, a boy currently preparing for his O’Levels, who aspires to become a diver. To support his ambition, the ministry has relocated him to ensure access to proper training. He has already completed an open water diving course and has received two pending internship offers from dive centres, with full-time employment opportunities based on his performance.

Additionally, Dr Aishath provided updates on the ministry’s initiatives for people with disabilities, senior citizens, and victims of gender-based violence.