Maldives
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
February 25, 2004
The
The civilian authorities
maintained effective control of the security forces. The National Security
Service (NSS) includes the armed forces and police. The Director of the NSS
reports to the Minister of Defense, a cabinet portfolio which is one of several
held by the President. The police division investigates crimes, collects
intelligence, makes arrests, and enforces house arrest. Some members of the
security forces committed human rights abuses.
The country had a
population of approximately 270,000 and had a market-based economy. Tourism and
fishing provided employment for more than one-half of the work force. Tourism
accounted for approximately 30 percent of government revenues and 70 percent of
foreign exchange receipts. Agriculture and manufacturing continued to play a minor
role in the economy, which was constrained by a severe shortage of labor and
lack of arable land. The economic growth rate was approximately 5 percent.
The Government’s human
rights record worsened, and it committed abuses. The President's power to appoint
members of the Parliament constrains citizens' ability to change their
government. There were reports of the abuse of prisoners. The Government
continued to impose constraints on freedom of the press. The Government limits
freedom of assembly and association, and does not allow the formation of
political parties. The law prohibits the practice of any religion other than
Islam. Although the Government has undertaken a number of programs addressing
women's issues, women faced a variety of legal and social disadvantages. The
Government also restricted internationally recognized worker rights.
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 1 Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom From:
a. Arbitrary or
Unlawful Deprivation of Life
There were no political
killings. However, in January, according to Amnesty International (AI),
security forces allegedly beat Ali Shaahir, a
prisoner at Maafushi prison, and he later died at a
Male’ hospital. President Gayoom ordered an
investigation, which concluded that childhood health problems had caused Shaahir’s death. Security forces killed two inmates, Hassan Eemaan Naseem
and Abdulla Amin, during
the September 19-20 Maafushi prison uprising. Ali Aslaam, another inmate, later died in the hospital (see
Section 1.c.).
b. Disappearance
There were no reports
of politically motivated disappearances.
c. Torture and Other
Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
The law prohibits such
practices; however, according to human rights organizations, there were reports
of beatings or other mistreatment of persons in police custody during the year.
According to human rights organizations, Ibrahim Moosa Luthfee, sentenced in 2002
to life imprisonment (see Section 2.a.), escaped from police custody in late
May after being brought to
Following the September
19-20 Maafushi Prison uprising and later rioting in
the streets of the capital, sparked by two prison deaths followed by another
death from injuries and enhanced by popular discontent with lack of government
responsiveness to public demands, President Gayoom
launched two separate inquiries into the incidents. One inquiry was to investigate
the civil unrest in Male’, and the other with the status of a Presidential
Commission was to probe the prison disturbances. While the prison investigation
continued, one NSS captain at the prison was held responsible and cashiered
from police service, and 12 NSS personnel were fired for their roles in the
prison disturbance. At a press conference October 16, the head of the prison
investigation indicated that unspecified mistreatment of an inmate who later
died sparked the prison riot. (The Deputy Chief of Staff of the NSS also was
transferred to another ministry after the civilian riots.)
There were reports of
public floggings (which are allowed under Shari'a as
interpreted in the country). In July, 5 women imprisoned on drug charges were
sentenced to 10 lashes each. In October 2002, 2 women were convicted of
engaging in homosexual activity, and were sentenced to 15 lashes each.
Punishments generally were limited to fines, compensatory payment, house
arrest, imprisonment, or banishment to a remote atoll (see Section 1.d.). The
Government generally permitted those who were banished to receive visits by
family members.
There were 3 major
prisons in the country, with fluctuating populations of approximately 300
inmates at the country’s main facility. Prison conditions at the existing
facilities generally did not meet international standards, and human rights
organizations noted that some prisoners were kept in extremely crowded and
unsanitary conditions. The Government surveyed prison facilities in other countries
to incorporate international standards and improvements in the reconstruction
of the prison. Prisoners were allowed to work and were given the opportunity
for regular exercise and recreation. Spouses were allowed privacy during visits
with incarcerated partners. Women were held separately from men. Children were
held separately from adults. Persons arrested for drug use were sent to a
"drug rehabilitation center" on a space available basis.
The Government
permitted prison visits by foreign diplomats. It was not known whether visits
by human rights observers were permitted during the year.
d. Arbitrary Arrest,
Detention, or Exile
The Constitution
prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention, and unlike in the past when persons
were held for long periods without charge, the Government generally respected
this prohibition during the year.
Police initiate
investigations based on response to written complaints from citizens, police
officers, or government officials, or on suspicion of criminal activity. They
were not required to obtain arrest warrants. The Attorney General referred
cases to the appropriate court based on the results of police investigations.
The authorities generally kept the details of a case secret until they were
confident that the charges were likely to be upheld.
The 287-officer police
force, which functioned as a subset of the NSS, investigated crimes, collected
intelligence, made arrests, and enforced house arrest. Neither police
corruption nor impunity posed problems during the year. The Government
inquiries into the events of September 19-20 had not been concluded at year’s
end.
A suspect may be
detained in prison, remain free, or be placed under house arrest for 15 days
during investigations, depending upon the charges. In most cases the suspect is
released if not brought to trial within 15 days, but the President may extend
pretrial detention for an additional 30 days. Those who are released pending
trial may not leave a specific atoll. Within 24 hours of an arrest, an
individual must be told of the grounds for the arrest. An individual then can
be held for 7 days. If no legal proceedings have been initiated within 7 days,
the case is referred to an anonymous 3-member civilian commission, appointed by
the President, that can authorize an additional 15
days of detention. After that time, if legal proceedings still have not been
initiated, a judge must sanction the continued detention on a monthly basis.
There was no provision for bail.
A law effective from
December 2002 provides for limited legal assistance to people accused of a
criminal offense, but AI alleged that conversations between counsel and accused
were conducted in the presence of police. Lawyers can be appointed in civil
cases when the complainant and defendant are private individuals. Courts did
not provide legal representation for the indigent. Although there is no right
to legal counsel during police interrogation, detainees are granted access to
family members. The Government may prohibit access to a telephone and nonfamily visits to those under house arrest. While there
have been no reported cases of incommunicado detention in the past few years,
the law does not provide safeguards against this abuse.
There were no reports
of religious prisoners during the year. The law limits a citizen's right to
freedom of expression in order to protect the "basic tenets of
Islam." In 2002, according to AI and other sources, four individuals were
arrested for distributing Islamist and anti-government literature. By year’s
end, three of the men were convicted to lengthy prison sentences for extremism
and subversion, and the fourth man was released.
There were no further
developments in the case of Member of Parliament (M.P.) Abdullah Shakir, arrested in July 2001 and released the following
month. International human rights groups claimed that he was arrested for his
support of a petition to form political parties in the country (see Section
2.b.), but the Government stated he was arrested on a civil matter, since
resolved. There were no reports of the internal exile of citizens during the
year.
e. Denial of Fair
Public Trial
The Constitution does
not provide for an independent judiciary, and the judiciary is subject to
executive influence. In addition to his authority to review High Court
decisions, the President influences the judiciary through his power to appoint
and dismiss judges, all of whom serve at his pleasure and are not subject to
confirmation by the Majlis. The President also may
grant pardons and amnesties.
There are three courts:
One for civil matters; one for criminal cases; and one for family and juvenile
cases. There is also a High Court in Male’, which is independent of the Justice
Ministry and which handles a wide range of cases, including politically
sensitive ones. The High Court also acts as court of appeals. The President can
appoint a five-member advisory council to review High Court rulings. The
President also has authority to affirm judgments of the High Court, to order a
second hearing, or to overturn the Court's decision.
Most trials are public
and conducted by judges and magistrates trained in Islamic, civil, and criminal
law. There are no jury trials.
The Constitution
provides that an accused person be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and
that an accused person has the right to defend himself "in accordance with
Shari'a." The judiciary generally enforced these
rights. During a trial, the accused also may call witnesses, and be assisted by
a lawyer (see Section 1.d.). Judges question the concerned parties and attempt
to establish the facts of a case.
Civil law is
subordinate to Shari'a, which is applied in
situations not covered by civil law as well as in certain matters such as
divorce and adultery. Courts adjudicating matrimonial and criminal cases generally
do not allow legal counsel in court because, according to a local
interpretation of Shari'a, all answers and
submissions should come directly from the parties involved. However, the High
Court allowed legal counsel in all cases, including those in which the right to
counsel was denied in lower court. Under the country's Islamic practice, the
testimony of two women equals that of one man in matters involving Shari'a, such as adultery, finance, and inheritance. In
other cases, the testimony of men and women are equivalent (see Section 5).
There were no confirmed
reports of political prisoners. Human rights organizations continued to allege
the existence of political prisoners; however, the Government maintained that
these prisoners were convicted of crimes not related to politics.
f. Arbitrary
Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
The Constitution
prohibits security officials from opening or reading wireless messages,
letters, telegrams, or monitoring telephone conversations, "except as
expressly provided by law." The Government generally respected these
prohibitions in practice. The NSS may open the mail of private citizens and
monitor telephone conversations if authorized in the course of a criminal
investigation.
Although the
Constitution provides that residential premises and dwellings should be
inviolable, there is no legal requirement for search or arrest warrants. The
Attorney General or a commanding officer of the police must approve the search
of private residences.
The government policy
to encourage a concentration of the population on the larger islands continued.
Section 2 Respect for
Civil Liberties, Including:
a. Freedom of Speech
and Press
The law does not
provide for freedom of speech or of the press, and the Government generally did
not respect such rights in practice. The Penal Code prohibits inciting citizens
against the Government. The law prohibits public statements that are contrary
to government policy and Islam, threaten the public order, or are libelous.
However, an amendment to the Penal Code decriminalized "true
account(s)" by journalists of governmental actions. Journalists and
publishers practiced self-censorship.
Regulations that make
publications responsible for the content of the material they publish remain in
effect, but no legal actions against publications were initiated during the
year.
The Press Council is
composed of lawyers, private and government media representatives, and other
government officials. The mandate of the council is to review charges of
journalistic misconduct (advising the Ministry of Information, Arts, and
Culture on measures to be taken against reporters, when appropriate) and
promotes professional standards within the media by recommending reforms and making
suggestions for improvement. The Council did not take notable action during the
year.
Radio and television
outlets were owned either by the Government or its sympathizers. Current or
former ministers owned all three major newspapers. Nonetheless, these outlets
on occasion mildly criticized the Government.
Almost 200 newspapers
and periodicals were registered with the Government, but only 3 dailies publish
on a regular basis: Aafathis, Haveeru
and Miadhu. In 2002, owners closed a weekly magazine,
Monday Times, that had printed articles critical of
President Gayoom’s administration. Despite reports to
the contrary, the Government claimed that it had not banned the publication of
Monday Times. In March, the Government announced the withdrawal of 22 publication
licenses for irregular publication, including the license for the Monday Times.
No regularly published newspaper or periodical was affected by this action.
The Government owned and operated the only television and radio stations. It
did not interfere with foreign broadcasts or with the sale of satellite
receivers. Reports drawn from foreign newscasts were aired on the Government
television station.
During the year, there
were no reports of government censorship of electronic media. However, in January
2002, three men and one woman were arrested for circulating an Internet e-mail
magazine, Sandhaanu, critical of the Government. The
four were held in solitary confinement until their trial in July 2002. Three
were sentenced to life imprisonment for spreading false news and calling for
the overthrow of the Government, among other charges. Fathimath
Nisreen, the one woman arrested, was sentenced to 10
years’ imprisonment for charges including calling for the overthrow of the
Government and assisting Sandhaanu originators. In
May, one of those sentenced, Ibrahim Moosa Luthfee, subsequently
escaped NSS custody.
Television news and
public affairs programming routinely discussed topics of concern and on
occasion mildly criticized government performance. Since it is not clear when
criticism violates the law prohibiting public statements that were contrary to
government policy or Islam, threaten the public, or were libelous, journalists
and publishers continued to practice self-censorship. In general, after an easing
of restrictions in the late 1990s, the Government has taken a more stringent
attitude toward freedom of the media.
There were no legal
prohibitions on the import of foreign publications except for those containing
pornography or material otherwise deemed objectionable to Islamic values.
The Government was the
major shareholder in the sole Internet service provider (ISP), although a
license had been granted to a second, private ISP. There were no government
attempts, other than blocking pornographic material, to interfere with the use
of the Internet during the year.
The law prohibits
public statements contrary to government policy and the Government’s
interpretation of Islam. Therefore, although there were no reported cases of
transgressions of these laws in the academic arena, the laws constrain academic
freedom to the extent that academics practice self-censorship.
b. Freedom of Peaceful
Assembly and Association
The Constitution
provides for freedom of assembly; however, the Government imposed limits on
this right in practice. The Home Ministry limited political meetings during
electoral campaigns.
On September 20, the
NSS reportedly used rubber bullets and tear gas to quell demonstrations that
damaged several government buildings in Male’, including the election office. (see Section 1.c.). There were reports that several civilians
sustained minor injuries as a result of the police action.
In 2001, Mohammed Nasheed lost his seat in the Majlis
after he was convicted of petty theft. He was released from internal exile in
late August 2002, but was denied his parliamentary seat. Some observers claimed
that the theft charge was fabricated to punish Nasheed
for supporting a movement to form a political party and for his criticism of
President Gayoom’s administration (see Section 3).
The Government imposed
limits on freedom of association. The Government registers clubs and other
private associations if they do not contravene Islamic or civil law. While not
prohibited by law, the President officially discouraged political parties on
the grounds that they were inappropriate to the homogeneous nature of society,
and none exist. In 2001, a group of 42 people petitioned the Minister of Home
Affairs to request permission to set up the Maldivian Democratic Party. One
signatory to the petition, M.P. Abdullah Shakir,
subsequently was arrested, but was released soon thereafter. Some observers
believed his arrest was connected to his support for the creation of political
parties, but the Government maintained that he was arrested in connection with
a civil matter (see Section 1.e.). The Government reportedly harassed other
individuals who signed the petition to form political parties.
Although not
prohibited, there were no local human rights groups.
c. Freedom of Religion
Freedom of religion was
restricted significantly. The Constitution designates the Sunni branch of Islam
as the official state religion, and the Government interprets this provision to
impose a requirement that citizens be Muslims. The law prohibits the practice
of any religion other than Islam. Foreign residents are allowed to practice
their religion if they do so privately and do not encourage citizens to
participate. President Gayoom repeatedly stated that
no other religion should be allowed in the country, and the Home Affairs
Ministry announced special programs to safeguard and strengthen religious
unity. The President, the members of the People's Majlis,
and cabinet members must be Muslims.
There were no places of
worship for adherents of other religions. The Government prohibits the import
of icons and religious statues, but it generally permits the import of
individual religious literature, such as Bibles, for personal use. It also
prohibits non-Muslim clergy and missionaries from proselytizing and conducting
public worship services. Conversion of a Muslim to another faith is a violation
of Shari'a and may result in punishment. In the past,
would-be converts have been detained and counseled regarding their conversion
from Islam. Foreigners have been detained and expelled for proselytizing in the
past. Unlike previous years, there were no reports of foreigners detained for
proselytizing.
Islamic instruction is
a mandatory part of the school curriculum, and the Government funds the
salaries of religious instructors. The Government has established a Supreme
Council of Islamic Affairs to provide guidance on religious matters. The
Government also sets standards for individuals who conduct Friday services at
mosques.
Under the country's
Islamic practice, certain legal provisions discriminate against women (see
Sections 1.e., 3, and 5).
For a more detailed
discussion, see the 2003
International Religious Freedom Report.
d. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and
Repatriation
The law provides for
these rights, and the Government generally respected them in practice. Citizens
are free to travel at home and abroad, to emigrate, and to return. Foreign
workers often were housed at their worksites. Their ability to travel freely
was restricted, and they were not allowed to mingle with the local population
on the islands.
The law does not
provide for the granting of asylum and/or refugee status to persons who meet
the definition in the 1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
and its 1967 Protocol. The Government has not formulated a policy regarding
refugees or asylees. The Government has cooperated in
the past with the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees; however,
asylum issues did not arise during the year. The Government provides protection
against refoulement, but did not routinely grant
refugee status or asylum.
Section 3 Respect for
Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government
Under the Constitution,
the citizens' ability to change their government is limited, and the strong
executive exerts significant influence over both the legislature and the
judiciary. Under the Constitution, the Majlis chooses
a single presidential nominee, who must be a Sunni Muslim male, from a list of
self-announced candidates for the nomination. Would-be nominees for president
are not permitted to campaign for the nomination. The nominee is then confirmed
or rejected by secret ballot in a nationwide referendum. From a field of four
candidates, President Gayoom was nominated
unanimously by the Majlis and was confirmed by
referendum on October 17 for a sixth 5-year term. Observers from the South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) said the referendum was
conducted in a free and fair manner.
By both law and custom,
the Office of the President is the most powerful political institution in the
country. The Constitution gives Shari'a preeminence
over civil law and designates the President as the "supreme authority to
propagate the tenets" of Islam. The President also was Commander in Chief
of the armed forces, the Minister of Defense and National Security, the
Minister of Finance and Treasury, and the Governor of the Maldivian Monetary
Authority. The President's authority to appoint 8 of the 50 members of the Majlis provided the President strong political leverage.
The elected members of the Majlis, who must be
Muslims, serve 5-year terms. All citizens over 21 years of age may vote.
Individuals or groups were free to approach members of the Majlis
with grievances or opinions on proposed legislation, and any member may
introduce legislation. There were no political parties, which were officially
discouraged (see Section 2.b.).
The Government may
introduce legislation but may not enact a bill into law without the Majlis' approval. The Majlis may
enact legislation into law without presidential assent if the President fails
to act on the proposal within 30 days or if a bill is repassed
with a two-thirds majority. In recent years, the Majlis
has become somewhat more independent, sometimes cautiously challenging
government policies and rejecting government-proposed legislation, though there
were no reports of this during the year.
For the past several
years, the Majlis has held a question period during
which members may query government ministers about public policy. Debate on the
floor since the question period was instituted has become increasingly open.
Elections to the
People's Majlis were held in 1999. According to SAARC
observers, the 1999 elections were "free and fair in accordance with the
relevant laws and regulations of the Republic of the
There were 5 women in
the 50-member Majlis. There was one woman in the
Cabinet. Women are not eligible to become president but may hold other
government posts. However, for reasons of tradition and culture, relatively few
women sought or were selected for public office. In October 2002, a woman was
named High Commissioner to
Section 4 Governmental
Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged
Violations of Human Rights
Although not
prohibited, no local human rights groups existed in the country. However,
during his November inaugural address, President Gayoom
announced his intention to establish a Human Rights Commission, which was
created by Presidential decree on December 10. Beyond a general intent to
"safeguard the civil rights enshrined in the Constitution" and
"protect and promote human rights," the Commission’s mandate,
composition, and independence were not defined. The International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) visited the country in 2002 and during the current year;
however, the ICRC has kept confidential its assessment of the situation.
Section 5 Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Disability, Language,
or Social Status
The Constitution
provides for the equality of all citizens before the law, but there is no
specific provision to prohibit discrimination based on race, sex, religion,
disability, or social status. Women traditionally have been disadvantaged,
particularly in terms of the application of Shari'a,
in matters such as divorce, education, inheritance, and testimony in legal
proceedings. There were no reports of official or societal discrimination
against people with HIV/AIDS.
Women
Women's rights
advocates agreed that domestic violence and other forms of violence against
women were not widespread. There were no firm data on the extent of violence
against women because of the value attached to privacy. Police officials
reported that they received few complaints of assaults against women. Rape and
other violent crimes against women were extremely rare. Under Shari'a the penalty for rape is flogging, imprisonment for
up to 5 years, or banishment.
Although women
traditionally have played a subordinate role in society, they participate in
public life in growing numbers and gradually are participating at higher levels
(see Section 3). Women constitute 38 percent of government employees, and
approximately 10 percent of uniformed NSS personnel. Women enjoyed a higher
literacy rate (98 percent) than men (96 percent). Well-educated women
maintained that cultural norms, not the law, inhibited women's education and career
choices. A Gender Equality Council advised the Government on policies to help
strengthen the role of women. During the year, the Government continued law
literacy programs and workshops on gender and political awareness in the outer
atolls to make women aware of their legal rights. The Government has built 15
women's centers where family health workers can provide medical services. The
centers also provide libraries and space for activities focusing on the
development of women. The minimum age of marriage for women is 18 years.
Under Islamic practice,
husbands may divorce their wives more easily than vice versa, absent any mutual
agreement to divorce. Shari'a also governs intestate
inheritance, granting male heirs twice the share of female heirs. A woman's
testimony is equal only to one-half of that of a man in matters involving
adultery, finance, and inheritance (see Section 1.e.). Women who worked for
wages received pay equal to that of men in the same positions.
Children
Education is not
compulsory, but there is universal access to free primary education. The
percentage of school-age children in school in 2002 was: (grades 1 to 5) 99
percent; (grades 6 to 7) 95 percent; and (grades 8 to 10) 51 percent. Of the
students enrolled, 49 percent were female and 51 percent were male. In many
instances, education for girls was curtailed after the seventh grade, largely
because parents do not allow girls to leave their home island for an island
having a secondary school.
Children's rights are
incorporated into law, which specifically protects them from both physical and
psychological abuse, including abuse at the hands of teachers or parents. The
Ministry of Women's Affairs and Social Welfare has the authority to enforce
this law and received strong popular support for its efforts. Although unable
to provide an exact number, the Ministry noted that there continued to be
reports of child abuse during the year, including sexual abuse. Penalties for
the sexual abuse of children range from up to 3 years' imprisonment to
banishment. It was not known if there were any prosecutions for child abuse or
child sexual abuse during the year.
Government policy
provided for equal access to educational and health programs for both male and
female children.
Persons with Disabilities
There is no law that
specifically addresses the rights of persons with physical or mental
disabilities. In 1999, the Government initiated a survey that identified 30,000
persons with disabilities in the country (primarily hearing and visually impaired).
The Government has established programs and provided services for persons with
disabilities.
Families usually cared
for persons with disabilities. When family care was unavailable, persons with
disabilities were kept in the Institute for Needy People, which also assisted
elderly persons. The Government provided free medication for all persons with
mental disabilities in the islands, and mobile teams regularly visit patients
with mental disabilities.
Section 6 Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
While the law does not
expressly prohibit unions, it recognizes neither a worker’s right to form or
join them, nor the right to strike. Associations (such as industry associations
and clubs) are allowed. In May, the Government enacted a new law to strengthen
the legal regime governing voluntary, not-for-profit associations. Small groups
of similarly employed workers with mutual interests have formed associations,
some of which include employers as well as employees. These associations have
not acted as trade unions.
In 1995, the U.S.
Government suspended the country's eligibility for tariff preferences under the
U.S. Generalized System of Preferences because the Government failed to take
steps to afford internationally recognized worker rights to workers.
There has been no
contact with the International Labor Organization to ratify its eight
fundamental conventions.
b. The Right to
Organize and Bargain Collectively
The law does not
recognize workers' rights to organize and bargain collectively. Wages in the
private sector are set by contract between employers and employees and are
usually based on the rates for similar work in the public sector.
There were no reports
of efforts to form unions or of strikes during the year.
There are no export
processing zones.
c. Prohibition of
Forced or Bonded Labor
The law does not
prohibit forced or bonded labor, including by children, and there were no
reports that such practices occurred.
d. Status of Child
Labor Practices and Minimum Age for Employment
The law bars children
less than 14 years of age from paid or hazardous work. In May, the Government
introduced new guidelines prohibiting employment of children under 18 by the
Government and in hazardous jobs such as construction, carpentry, welding, and driving.
According to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, child labor
remained a problem, primarily in agriculture, fishing and small commercial
activities, including in family enterprises. There were no reports of children
being employed in the industrial sector. The working hours of young workers
were not limited specifically by statute. A Unit for Children's Rights in the
Ministry of Women's Affairs and Social Welfare is responsible for monitoring
compliance with the child labor regulations, but it is not charged with their
enforcement. The Ministry of Employment and Labor's Dispute
Settlement Unit deals with child labor issues.
e. Acceptable
Conditions of Work
There was no national
minimum wage for the private sector, although the Government has established
wage floors for certain kinds of work such as government employment. These wage
floors, or minimum standards, provided a decent standard of living for a worker
and family. Given the severe shortage of labor, employers offered competitive
pay and conditions to attract skilled workers.
There were no statutory
provisions for hours of work, but the regulations require that a work contract
specify the normal work and overtime hours on a weekly or monthly basis. The
public sector provides a 7-hour day and a 5-day workweek.
There are no national
laws governing health and safety conditions. There are regulatory requirements
in certain industries such as construction and transport that employers provide
a safe working environment and ensure the observance of safety measures. It was
unclear whether workers could remove themselves from unsafe working conditions
without risking the loss of their jobs. The Ministry of Human Resources,
Employment, and Labor’s Labor Dispute Settlement Unit resolves wage and labor
disputes, visits worksites and enforces labor regulations.
f. Trafficking in
Persons
The law does not prohibit trafficking in persons, and there
were no reports that persons were trafficked to, from, or within the country.