Velaa Private Island staffs receive USD 3,055 as February service charge

Velaa Private Island's golf course | Photo: Velaa

Malé, Maldives – Velaa Private Island has distributed USD 3,055 (MVR 47,108) per person as February 2021 service charge for their staffs.

While Velaa distributed USD 3,055 in February, they also topped the list of highest service charge paid out by a Maldivian resort in January 2021 with USD 4,079.10 per staff.

According to the Facebook page Resort Workers Maldives, despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Velaa has distributed the highest service charge out of all resorts in February 2021 as well. Velaa is also one of the resorts which avoided letting go of any employees due to the global pandemic and closing of border and continued to provide them with basic salary and allowances.

The second highest service charge for February of this year was paid by Four Seasons resorts in Maldives which paid USD 1,531 (MVR 23,608) per staff while most of the other resorts paid service charges between USD 1,200 to USD 300.

A new amendment to Employment Act requiring for a minimum 10 percent service charge on all services provided by tourism sector businesses took effect on January 1. With the amendment, employers are required to disburse the money taken as service charge equally among all employees. Service charge must be paid to all employees before the end of the subsequent month, and without any discrimination.