MHPU Urges Gov’t to Address Unpaid Overtime for Health Workers

The Maldives Health Professionals Union (MHPU) has renewed its call for overtime pay for health workers required to work beyond their official hours.

In a statement, the union expressed deep concern over the ongoing issue, highlighting that government health workers are not being compensated for extra hours worked. It stated that this practice violates international treaties to which the Maldives is a party.

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Under the salary structure implemented in May 2023, overtime pay has been capped at 10 percent of an employee’s basic salary. Previously, workers were compensated for all hours worked beyond their official duty hours.

MHPU argues that the current framework does not reflect the realities of the healthcare sector, where staffing levels are insufficient to meet the demand for services. It also stated that the new pay structure contradicts the Employment Act, which mandates overtime compensation. The union warned that expecting health workers to work beyond the 10 percent overtime cap without pay amounts to forced labour.

On 8 June 2023, MHPU filed a formal complaint with the Labour Relations Authority and was informed that requiring employees to work beyond official hours without overtime pay is unlawful.

The union has urged the government to revise the regulation and ensure that health workers are fairly compensated. It emphasised that despite the policy, health workers continue to work six-hour shifts, six days a week to provide uninterrupted 24-hour services, including during the last 10 days of Ramadan.

MHPU has called for the implementation of overtime payments in accordance with the Employment Act, along with back payments for unpaid overtime since May 2023.