Parliament Accepts Bill Mandating Service Charge Be Paid in Original Currency for Tourism Workers

The People’s Majlis has accepted a bill requiring service charges collected in foreign currency to be paid to tourism industry employees in the same currency, with 67 votes in favour.

The bill, submitted by Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir, has been referred to the Security Services Committee for further review.

The proposed legislation states that employers must not convert service charge funds—collected from customers and intended for employees—into Maldivian Rufiyaa for currency exchange purposes. It further requires that employees be paid in the same currency in which the service charge was originally received.

It also specifies that within the tourism sector, employees—including those working under temporary agreements or as third-party staff—who are directly involved in providing services to tourists must not face discrimination in the distribution of service charges.

The proposed bill aims to standardise service charge practices and ensure fair and transparent distribution of funds among workers in the industry.