High Court overturns unfair dismissal ruling on protesting resort workers

Ahmed Siyad, Hussain Ali Didi and Moosa Mohamed, who were senior members of the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives, were accused of organising and joining four separate “illegal” demonstrations on the resort island. The protesting staff alleged discrimination between local and expatriate employees and demanded equal pay, freedom of speech and other worker’s rights.

When they challenged the dismissal, the tribunal ruled that the resort had acted unfairly and ordered payment of compensation. However, citing negligence by the former employees, the tribunal declined to order reinstatement.

In a judgment delivered last week on appeal by Furana Holdings, which operates the resort, the High Court ruled that the protests “have to be deemed illegal” because the employees did not seek written permission as required by the Freedom of Assembly Act.