Collective bargaining and collective agreements are being introduced into the Maldives.

This is being achieved through the introduction of a full-fledged bill on industrial relations. The first reading of this fundamental legislation, motivated by government policy and sponsored by a ruling party parliamentarian, occurred in parliament on 22 March 2023. 

Spread over 79 pages and containing 126 provisions, the industrial relations bill is now awaiting parliamentary debate during its second reading. It is at the end of this stage that a vote will be taken to see if the bill is acceptable in principle, and sails through to the committee stage for further review.