Fishermen protest over unreceived payments
Although the Government has remained silent on the issue thus far, the Government has confirmed that there is a staggering MVR 190 million which is owed to fishermen as of right now.
Maldives has long relied on its fishing industry as a vital lifeline for its economy and sustenance. With over 99 percent of its territory comprised of water, fishing has been ingrained in the fabric of Maldivian society since ancient times. It serves as not only a source of income but also as a cornerstone of food security, providing nourishment to locals for generations. However, despite its profound significance, the fishing industry often finds itself overshadowed and overlooked by the government.
In the latest spat between the fishermen of the Maldives and the Government, fishermen from the south have started out a protest against the Government. According to local fishermen from the island, they are yet to receive payments from the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) which has been overdue for months.
In addition to obstructing 15 different fishing boats that went to the island’s fish processing factory from selling the weight fish to MIFCO, the protestors are demanding real action from the Government as well as MIFCO. Although the Government has remained silent on the issue thus far, the Government has confirmed that there is a staggering MVR 190 million which is owed to fishermen as of right now.
This would not be the first time that fishermen raised issues around uncleared amounts from the Government, as there was a significant pending bill to be paid off to fishermen when the administration changed. Although a huge chunk of the amount has been cleared by the current administration, with such absorbent amounts of money still pending to be paid, the fishermen at the protest are intent on keeping the protest going till the full amount is cleared.
