The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources announced that it will be accepting applications for the appointment of a representative from, and representing, fishermen on the state-owned fisheries company’s board of directors.
MIFCO, which was previously a subsidiary of State Trading Organization (STO), transferred 100 percent of its shares to the government on 20 December.
President Mohamed Muizzu had earlier stated that he would create a fishermen’s cooperative and, after divesting MIFCO from STO, make the cooperative a shareholder of MIFCO.
The administration’s ‘Week 14’ roadmap, the first 100 days, or 14 weeks, of the government includes increasing the role of fishermen in running MIFCO. The President’s manifesto also includes the distribution of dividends to fishermen so that MIFCO profits will more directly benefit the fishermen.
Those applying to be the fishermen’s representative should be a Maldivian citizen, an active fisherman, and be 18 years or older. Additionally, they should not have been convicted of a criminal offence, be serving a sentence of more than one year, and, if they have been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to a term of more than 12 months, five years should have passed since the sentence was completed, or if pardoned, five years should have elapsed since the date of the pardon.
Applications for MIFCO board membership should be submitted to the Ministry of Fisheries by 1:30 p.m. on 11 January. A document from the Island or City Council stating that the candidate is currently a fisherman must also be submitted with the application.
Forms are available on the ministry’s website (https://www.gov.mv/en/jobs-and-procurements/announcement-ministry-announces-call-for-interested-fishermen-to-represent-in-mifco-board) and should be emailed to; admin@fishagri.gov.mv