Friday 27 Mar 2026
RDC employees at work.
The intersection of state-owned enterprise administration and electoral politics has once again come under the spotlight in the Maldives. A formal complaint submitted to Parliament has initiated a call for a thorough investigation into the Road Development Corporation (RDC), specifically regarding the timing and legitimacy of employee promotions and mass recruitment efforts. This development underscores growing concerns among legislators regarding the potential misuse of state resources to influence the electorate ahead of the upcoming local council elections, scheduled for early April 2026. The complaint filed by Galolhu North MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, addressed to Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, is comprehensive in its scope. It does not merely look at current promotions but seeks to expose the underlying administrative mechanisms of the RDC. By requesting data from two distinct time periods, the MP aims to establish whether there has been a significant deviation in management style or hiring patterns that correlates specifically with the approach of the electoral season. To facilitate this investigation, the MP has requested access to critical documentation. This includes the corporation's formal promotion procedures, criteria for advancement, and a detailed breakdown of the management structure. Furthermore, the inquiry seeks to uncover board decisions regarding the budget, the specific details regarding the Managing Director’s Bureau, and a comprehensive list of section and department heads. By obtaining board decisions from July of last year through March 10, 2026, the Parliament hopes to identify any policy shifts that may have facilitated questionable employment practices.
A complaint has been submitted to Parliament requesting an investigation into the promotion of employees at the Road Development Corporation (RDC) in the lead‑up to the upcoming local council elections.
The complaint was filed by Galolhu North MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem (MDP), who wrote to Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla alleging that RDC had issued promotions “without rules or proper basis” as the elections scheduled for April 4 approach.
Meekail has asked the Independent Institutions Committee to obtain detailed information covering two periods: 28 November 2023 to 29 July 2025, and 30 July 2025 to 10 March 2026.
The information requested includes:
RDC’s promotion procedures and criteria
The company’s management structure
Number of employees and job categories
Board decisions related to the company’s budget for the past two years, including the current year
Details of former RDC employees
Details of how promotions were granted
Details of employees in the Managing Director’s Bureau
Details of section and department heads
Details of all current employees
All RDC Board decisions from July last year to March 10 this year
Meekail has also asked the State‑Owned Enterprises (SOE) Committee to convene a meeting as soon as possible to review the information.
RDC, a company frequently accused of mismanagement and corruption, announced on March 14 that it is seeking a large number of new employees for its ongoing projects. The company has opened applications for 150 positions across six islands.
According to the announcements, the highest number of vacancies are in H.A. Uligan and A.A. Rasdhoo, with 50 positions in each island. Additional vacancies include 24 positions in K. Kaashidhoo, 13 in Th. Madifushi, 12 in Lh. Naifaru, and one position in Lh. Hinnavaru.
It has become common for governments to expand hiring in state‑owned companies during election periods. Previous independent reports have noted that state resources are often used in ways that facilitate corruption during such periods.
Companies frequently associated with politically timed hiring include loss‑making Fenaka, as well as RDC, and larger SOEs such as MACL and STELCO.
