On March 20, 2025, the Maldives Health Professionals Union (MHPU) achieved a significant victory for healthcare workers by securing essential wage protections. The government introduced the 7th Amendment to the State Pay Framework Standards, published in the Government Gazette, which removes the 10% overtime cap on all government calendar public holidays, Fridays, and additional public holidays declared by the President of the Maldives. 

With this amendment, healthcare professionals will now be paid for all the hours they work on public holidays. Previously, overtime pay was capped at 10% of a worker’s basic salary, regardless of the number of hours worked. This policy change addresses a long-standing injustice that left healthcare workers—who provide round-the-clock services—underpaid despite working extended hours due to staff shortages and the critical nature of their work. 

Since the introduction of the revised State Pay Framework in 2023, MHPU has consistently lobbied key stakeholders on this issue, advocating for fairer compensation. The union recently launched a strategic campaign to amplify workers’ voices through collective action, including a daily social media campaign highlighting the concerns of healthcare professionals. This campaign helped mobilise workers and draw attention to the unjust pay cap, pressuring the government to act. 

Fathimath Zimna, General Secretary of MHPU, emphasised the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. “The health system has been struggling with staff shortages, and workers have worked overtime to fill the gap. The new pay standards implemented in 2023 have compelled the health workers to provide services 40-60 hours per week without adequate compensation. The question was—how long would we have to work under these conditions? Would management or politicians accept the same treatment? At the very least, the government and management must uphold workers’ labour and human rights. Now this will change. Our struggles have borne fruit,” said Zimna. 

While this policy marks a significant step toward fairer pay, MHPU acknowledges that there is still work to be done. The amendment does not fully resolve the issue of unpaid overtime, and the union continues to push for comprehensive protections to ensure that all hours worked are compensated as stipulated under the Maldives Employment Act (2008/2). 

This victory is a testament to the power of collective action and sustained advocacy. MHPU remains committed to protecting the rights and well-being of healthcare professionals and ensuring that they are treated with the respect and fairness they deserve.