Promoting Fundamental Rights and Strengthening Labour Market Governance in the Maldives

Responsible(s): fenwick@ilo.org

The Republic of Maldives is a country working to consolidate its transition to a stable, multi-party democracy, with effective and independent institutions of governance, supported by a vibrant civil society. The ILO project is supporting the establishment of new legal frameworks for governance of the labour market, especially laws to facilitate the formation of representative organizations of workers and employers, and to avoid and manage industrial disputes. The ILO will also work to build the capacity of institutions to make new legal frameworks effective in practice.

Project objectives:

• A revised legal framework is developed that implements international labour standards, protects fundamental labour rights, in particular freedom of association and collective bargaining, establishes dispute resolution mechanisms, defines the right to strike and promotes labour-management cooperation.
• A reformed labour law administration machinery at the central and selected atoll levels for a more effective provision of services, including clearer functions, working procedures and reporting systems, improved mechanisms for labour law implementation, particularly for labour inspections and dispute resolution, improving the Employment Tribunal’s capacity and better co-ordination between the central, the provincial labour offices and other government agencies.
• Independent workers’ and employers’ organizations with strengthened capacities to engage in sound workplace cooperation and labour- management relations, participate in social dialogue, improve working conditions and enhance productivity.

This Project is carried out under the auspices of the ILO Programme on Promoting the 1998 Declaration on FRRW, with funding support from USDOL. DIALOGUE provides technical advice on labour law reform, and the promotion of national and bipartite social dialogue. Other ILO Technical units contributing to the project include the Administration and Inspection Programme (LAB/ADMIN), the Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV) and the Bureau for Employers’ Activities (ACT/EMP).