In this meeting, the committee reviewed the “Resolution calling for the development of a common standard or code for grooming, and a dress code for employees in the Tourism industry, removing barriers to wearing headscarves and decent beards, due to the existing grooming and dress codes for employees working in tourist resorts and hotels”, sponsored by Kendhoo Constituency Member Mauroof Zakir. In this regard, Kendhoo Constituency Member Mauroof Zakir proposed to meet with the related officials of the Ministry of Higher Education Labour and Skills Development and Ministry of Tourism and Environment to further discuss the possibility of formulation of such regulation under the Act no:2/2008 (Employment Act) and possible legal and implementation challenges related to it; and it was seconded by Kanditheemu Constituency Member Ameen Faisal.

Secondly, in this meeting the committee further discussed the issue proposed by North Thinadhoo constituency member Saudulla Hilmy to review Kaadehdhoo Airport issue as the operators of the airport have not developed the airport facilities properly and is poorly maintained even though it has a high potential to generate higher income and can be economically beneficial to the country. In this regard, Hoarafushi constituency member Ali Moosa proposed to request Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation to carry out discussions with relevant stakeholders to enhance the quality of services at Kaadehdhoo Airport, ensuring that the economic advantages of the airport effectively benefit the region, and to seek an appropriate resolution to the issue; and it was seconded by Kendhoo Constituency Member Mauroof Zakir.

Thirdly, in this meeting the committee reviewed letter sent by North Galolhu constituency member Mohamed Ibrahim requesting to clarify about the Maldives Monetary Authority’s regulation on money changing businesses and to hear and address concerns of the businesses in tourism industry regarding the regulation and its impact on those businesses in an open forum. In this regard, the committee highlighted that an Act (Act No:32/2024 (Foreign Exchange Act)) had been ratified and went into effect from 1^st January 2025, the issues mentioned in the letter have been resolved and decided not to pursue this issue further.

Furthermore, in this meeting the committee reviewed the letter sent by Secretariat of the South Atoll Hoan’dedhdhoo Council regarding the revision of the rent of the land leased to Horizon Fisheries Private Limited as a part of the project to develop Skipjack Tuna industry. In this regard, after reviewing the information gathered by the committee on this matter, the committee decided that since the land leased to Horizon Fisheries Private Limited was registered to the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, the ministry has the authority to decide on the rent and revision of the rent. Further, the committee noted that the ministry has been conducting discussions about revision of the rent with the relevant stakeholders.

In addition, the committee reviewed concerns raised regarding the cabinet members’ official cars driven by expatriates’ drivers and use of those cars for personal use. In this regard, the committee decided to send a response based on all the information gathered regarding this issue.

Lastly, committee discussed about the letter sent by the Drivers Association of Maldives regarding their concerns over introduction of a taxi fleet by government. In this regard, Kendhoo constituency member Mauroof Zakir proposed to meet Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and Drivers Association of Maldives together as decided in the previous meeting, and it was seconded by Kanditheemu constituency member Ameen Faisal.

Details of votes taken in this meeting are on “Votes” section of this page.