Over 500 New Jobs Planned as Public Works Units Roll Out Across Islands, Says Minister

Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works Adam Shareef has announced that over 500 new jobs will be created with the establishment of public works units across the Maldives.

The public works units, to be introduced under the mandate of the cities ministry, will be rolled out nationwide to deliver essential municipal services. The units will operate in coordination with local councils and relevant ministries to ensure more streamlined and effective service delivery to the public.

During the opening sitting of Parliament this year, the President Dr Mohamed Muizzu highlighted the importance of ensuring the long-term sustainability of facilities and services developed under the government’s national infrastructure development programme. As part of this effort, the President stated that public works units equipped with modern resources will be deployed across 19 islands in 15 atolls where such units are not currently operational.

The activation of the public works units forms part of the President’s broader vision to bring government services closer to citizens, improve accessibility, and promote equality in service provision. The Minister noted that vehicles required for the operation of the units are expected to be delivered to the ministry by April this year, with procurement of all necessary resources targeted for completion by mid-year.

The initiative is expected to generate employment opportunities for around 500 individuals, including technical and administrative staff as well as drivers. The ministry will also oversee specialised training for drivers to operate the vehicles procured for the units.

The Minister emphasised that local communities have a strong need for the services provided by public works units and stated that their activation is expected to bring noticeable improvements at the community level. The President has also reiterated that the establishment of these units will significantly enhance the maintenance and management of government-led infrastructure, making such processes more efficient and effective nationwide.