Aishath Shooza, a senior staff member at the Ministry of Social and Family Development, has publicly accused the Ministry's leadership of fostering a hostile work environment that ultimately compelled her to resign.
In a video that has gained traction on social media, Shooza, who previously headed the Guraidhoo Centre for People with Special Needs and served as a Director at the Ministry, addressed her colleagues during a senior staff meeting.
The meeting reportedly focused on the decision to transfer the Ministry's elderly department to the Health Ministry.
Shooza, who joined the Ministry in 2007 as a Counsellor Trainee when it was still known as the Gender Ministry, detailed her grievances in the video.
She stated that, without any valid reason, she was stripped of her responsibilities by December 2023, removed from all committees, and subsequently banned from attending senior staff meetings.
She was eventually demoted to a regular case worker role.
“I requested an appointment to clarify why this happened without any excuse or reason, but I didn’t even receive an appointment,” Shooza expressed.
My issue is about the injustices, bullying and harassment I had to face at the Ministry since November 2023.
— Shooza (@AishathShooza) October 4, 2024
Kindly please refrain from politicizing this and taking the focus away from the actual issue. Thank you.
She claimed that the Ministry, which is tasked with protecting the rights of women, children, and vulnerable populations, had violated her rights and caused her psychological distress.
Shooza further alleged that she is not the only employee experiencing such treatment; she indicated that several others are in similar situations.
Ministry's Response
When approached by Mihaaru news, a spokesperson for the Ministry stated that the transfer of the elderly department and its employees to the Health Ministry was in line with a decision made by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
The spokesperson explained that this transfer was intended to ensure the continuity of services provided by the Guraidhoo centre.
“The employees in the elderly department work closely with the service provision and case management at the centre for people with special needs in Guraidhoo. Moving the department allows employees to continue their work without interruption,” the spokesperson added.
The Ministry also refuted Shooza's claims, stating, “No employee has been terminated as part of this decision, and no coercion has been applied to any staff member.”
Additionally, the Ministry noted that this is not the first instance of the elderly department being transferred to the Health Ministry, indicating a precedent for such organizational changes.
