MTUC Criticises Minister’s Stance On Iskandhar Workers Union

The Maldives Trade Union Congress (MTUC) has criticised Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu’s position on the decision not to recognise the Iskandhar Workers Union and to prohibit its activities within Iskandhar School, calling on the Ministry of Education and the Registrar of Unions to uphold freedom of association and protect workers’ rights in line with national laws and international labour standards.

In a statement issued yesterday, MTUC said it strongly condemned the minister’s response in Parliament regarding the union and argued that the relevant regulations had been interpreted in a manner inconsistent with the purpose of the Industrial Relations Act and workers’ constitutional right to organise.

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The union said provisions governing the naming of trade unions were intended to prevent confusion between legal entities and organisations, not to prevent workers from identifying their union through the name of the workplace they represent.

Statement on the Minister's Decision to Restrict Workers' Right to Union Representation.@ilo @TAMaldives @ILOColombo @ituc @eduint @MoEdumv @HomeMinistrymv @MateyZakir pic.twitter.com/uJXO1KKXEj— MTUC (@mtucMV) June 24, 2026

According to MTUC, the name “Iskandhar Workers Union” is clearly distinguishable from “Iskandhar School” and does not create confusion regarding the identity of the educational institution.

The organisation also argued that using the name of a workplace, employer, or sector as part of a union’s name is a common and widely accepted practice internationally, as it helps identify the employees represented by the union.

MTUC further expressed concern over the minister’s confirmation that the principal of Iskandhar School acted on guidance from the Ministry of Education in refusing to recognise the union and preventing its activities.

The union said public authorities have a responsibility to respect and protect workers’ rights, including the right to establish and participate in trade unions without interference.

It also cited the Maldives’ obligations under International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions No. 87 and No. 98, which relate to freedom of association, the right to organise, and collective bargaining.

MTUC said teachers and employees of Iskandhar School are entitled to the same protections afforded to all workers under the Constitution, the Industrial Relations Act, and international labour standards. It called on the relevant authorities to remove barriers preventing workers from exercising their right to organise and to allow the Iskandhar Workers Union to operate independently.

Minister Cites Union Naming Regulations

The statement follows remarks made by Education Minister Dr Ismail Shafeeu in Parliament on Tuesday, where he said the Iskandhar Workers Union had been instructed not to operate because its name may violate regulations governing union registration.

Responding to a question from Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir, Shafeeu said union regulations prohibit the registration of unions using the names of the Maldivian state, government institutions, or names that could cause confusion with them.

He argued that names such as Iskandhar, Majeedhiyya, and Aminiya should not be used for trade unions and questioned whether the union had been registered correctly.

The minister also stated that schools have unique responsibilities and restrictions compared with ordinary organisations and said the matter would be referred to the Registrar of Unions for review. He added that protecting teachers’ rights remains a government priority while stressing that additional care is needed when operating unions linked to educational institutions.