MALDIVESCOUNTRY REPORT
08 OCTORBER 2019

Basic Information
Name: Mariyam Seeza
Country: Maldives
Title: Public Health Program
Manager for Environmental andOccupational Health And safety
Work experience in the field ofOSH: 4 years
Ministry of Health
Health Protection Agency
Environmental and Occupational Health andSafety DivisionOrganization chart

Maldives• Maldives consist of 1192 tiny coralislands and is located in the indian
ocean. 200 Islands are inhabited and therest of the islands are used for various
activities the most important of which istourism.
• Total population of the country is344,023 (Census 2014, National bureauof statistics)• Economy is mainly based on the tourismand fishing.

Data collection methods for statistics• The occurrence of occupational accidents and diseases are common in Maldives.
• The burden of occupational accidents and diseases is unknown as Injury
surveillance data collection system has not been established.

Safety and health related laws and regulations• No Occupational Health and Safety Act. The act has been drafted for some twoyears but it has been caught in a legislative backlog.
• Regulation on Construction Safety Standards (Ministry of National Planning andInfrastructure, February 2019)• Public Health Protection Act 7/2012 (Health Protection Agency)• Employment Act - refers only to notification of work‐related injuries requiring
medical attention. However, there is no provision for punitive action for noncomplianceLabor inspection System• Labor Relation Authority of the Maldives conduct random inspection.
• Health protection agency conducts random inspection regarding
vector control and investigates and handles public complaints
regarding Occupational health and safety.

Workers accident compensation insurance• Not regulated as due to non existence of OSH act• All locals are covered under Assandha medica insurance• For migrants workers there is no medical insurance• Private industries that hire expatriate are registered under the“Expatriate Medical Insurance” issued from Allied insuranceSafety of equipment's and facilities• Currently there is no system to monitor and ensure the safety ofindustry/ facilities or the safety of the equipment’s used at thatworkplace.
• There are no set standards established for boat building dockyards,
motor vehicle repairing garages, fuel stations etc.

Training and Educational Programs•

In March 2019 training of trainers program for OSH
was conducted to health professionals.

• July 2019 training was conducted on air pollution
Activities of industrial/occupational safety and health organizations otherthan government
The Maldives Association of Construction Industry (MACI) act as a National
association creating a platform to improve the occupational safety and healthstandards of the Maldivian construction industry.

OSHMS and Risk Assessment• Few industries have their own OSHMS established.

• Some outsource risk assessment to identify the risks and bring necessaryimprovements• Upon complaints that Health Protection Agency receives in regard to OHS,
HPA conducts risk assessments.
Campaigns/ Events/National Convention/ Exhibition

There are no recent campaigns, events or national convention on this area as
OHS is greatly neglected in the country there are little or no funding receivedfor thisThree major initiatives (strategies) by the government
 Strengthening injury surveillance system in the country
 Development of OHS Act and related regulations and standards
 Capacity building through trainingMajor issues and challenges on occupational safety and health• Nonexistence of Occupational health and safety Act and other OHS related

policies, regulations, standards and guidelines.
• Absence of mechanism for reporting works related injuries and diseases andlack of statistical data.
• Air quality of the work place is another concern in occupations such as fiber

boat building, carpentry, auto mobile garages etc. The indoor air quality of
the workplace is unknown as scientific instruments or sample collection

devices that would allow identifying, characterizing or quantifying the natureof air pollution is not available.

Major issues and challenges on occupational safety and health• Lack of effective legislation on import and use of hazardous chemicals• Lack of awareness among the relevant stakeholders• Lack of formal mechanism for coordination between stakeholders andissues in in coordination among different sectors (ministries)• Lack/ confusion among which sector to take ownership in OHS in workplace• Lack of public advocacy

Suggestions/ counter Measures Ministry of health to reinforce the draft OHS bill through the necessary
parliamentary process and develop regulation and OSH related

standards and guidelines Allocate adequate funds and strengthen national capacities forregulatory and monitoring mechanism
 Conduct advocacy forum and bring OHS to political attention.

 Develop Action plan with budget to identify areas of urgent needs andprioritize accordinglySuggestions/ counter Measures
 Establish government occupational health and safety committee/ board to support
development and implementation of OSH action Plan Strengthen integrated national surveillance system for injury surveillance including
all occupational injuries. (Establish reporting system, conduct training andcollection and dissemination of surveillance data.)

 Strengthen national OHS program through capacity building programs
 Ensure health insurance and good working and living conditions for all the foreignworkers
 Conducting OSH Public awareness campaigns/ events

Any Questions?

THANKYOU