HRCM examines WAMCO’s compliance with workplace safety laws

The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) has launched a formal investigation into workplace safety standards at the Waste Management Corporation (WAMCO), following repeated incidents that raised concerns about the protection of waste‑management workers.

In its statement, HRCM said the inquiry will assess whether WAMCO employees are adequately protected under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, including the risks they face in daily operations, the availability of personal protective equipment, the implementation of safety protocols, and the level of training provided on environmental safety.

The commission will also examine whether workers are able to raise occupational‑safety concerns without fear of intimidation or reprisals, noting that public reports of injuries have increased in recent months.

HRCM has called on WAMCO employees and anyone with relevant information to cooperate with the investigation, assuring that all submissions will be kept confidential.

The probe follows a recent incident in Malé in which a WAMCO employee was seriously injured after falling into a container at a waste site. Earlier this year, a 24‑year‑old foreign worker was found dead two days after going missing from WAMCO’s Thilafushi site.

WAMCO has said it is cooperating with all authorities.