President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has stated that approximately MVR 470 million has been disbursed to fishermen since the implementation of the policy to pay for fish weighed at the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO) within 48 hours.
He made these remarks while speaking on the "With the People" podcast series brought by the President's Office.
Noting that paying fishermen within 48 hours of weighing their catch at MIFCO was a presidential pledge, he stated that since the implementation of this pledge began in December last year as outlined in the manifesto, payments have been disbursed regularly without interruption. The President highlighted that approximately MVR 470 million has been disbursed to fishermen so far.
The President said that the positive results of starting to pay fishermen regularly are now being seen. In this regard, some youths who had previously left fishing for regular jobs due to not receiving payments on time have now started returning to the fishing industry.
"There are currently many foreigners on the vessels. I want the foreigners to be taken off and Maldivians to return to the vessels. They will only go when they personally believe that it (regular payments) is happening. Now they believe that through the system introduced by the government, they are receiving payments regularly as I promised. If they receive the money, they will return," the President said.
In today's podcast, the President also gave assurances that through the current arrangements, payments will continue to be disbursed to fishermen without interruption in the future.
After clearing the outstanding debt owed to fishermen by MIFCO, the disbursement of payments within 48 hours began on December 10 last year. Even if the payment day falls on an official or government holiday, MIFCO continues to disburse payments to fishermen regularly. Since regular payments began, the number of vessels going fishing has increased, and the number of youths entering the fishing industry has also grown.
