Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer has announced a special unemployment allowance for individuals who lose their jobs after April 1 over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking in a press conference at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), Minister Ameer said the stimulus package it has introduced recently will only be provided to resorts once they assure not to dismiss employees over the economic regression caused by the pandemic, adding the dismissed employees will be compensated via the stimulus package. He further said the Tourism Employees Association of the Maldives (TEAM) has provided the ministry with figures of staff who had lost their jobs and the ministry expects to carry the procedures through a formal mechanism by requiring employees to register at the job portal.
The finance minister said the government is seeking financial assistance in two approaches; one is seeking assistance from other nations who are ready to assist and the other is talking with other international financial services providers such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. He remarked the developments the government has made as it has acquired USD 50 million from the pledged amount of USD 150 million in grants. Stating that currently, only 292 have registered at the portal, he called on all individuals who lose their jobs to register at the government job portal.
Although the government has not yet revealed the amounts to be released, it expects to start issuing stimulus packages in the coming week.