People Want Jobs but Avoid Hard Work, Says Deputy Speaker Nazim
Photo: People’s Majlis
Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Nazim, has expressed concern over what he described as poor work ethics in the Maldives, highlighting that many people seek employment without a willingness to perform actual work.
Nazim, who represents the Dhiggaru constituency, made the remarks during the debate on the proposed MVR 64.2 billion state budget for the upcoming year. He said that for the Maldives to achieve development comparable to countries such as Singapore, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi, citizens must adopt a strong work ethic.
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“The responsibility of developing a country lies not just with the government, but with all its people,” Nazim said. “The people must make the effort and become hard working. Nowadays, many of the people want jobs where they don’t have to do any actual work. They even openly admit this. Therefore, we need people in our society who dare to work hard, who get up from sleep when it’s morning and dare to go to work.”
He also emphasised the importance of civic duty and the need for skilled individuals in the civil service to improve the quality of public services. Nazim said that smart and open-minded personnel are essential to effectively implement policies across ministries and state institutions. He added that the civil service pay increase introduced in November is expected to encourage more capable youths to join the sector.
Nazim has previously voiced concerns about the work habits of civil servants. During a recent Budget Committee meeting with the Civil Service Commission (CSC), he noted that many civil servants are frequently seen in cafés during work hours, raising questions about whether their conduct is adequately monitored.
CSC President Mohamed Mujthaz acknowledged the issue, describing the growing “coffee culture” among civil servants as a new challenge that signals a shift in work ethics. He added that this trend is not limited to government offices but is also present in state-owned enterprises.
