TMA Reinstates Full USD Salaries Amid Internal Pressure

Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) has reversed its earlier decision to employee salaries, reinstating full US dollar payments following mounting pressure from employees.

A letter issued by CEO Mr. A.U.M Fawzy confirmed that the company will return to its previous salary structure, fully in USD just after a temporary 80% USD and 20% Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) split had been introduced under the framework of the newly implemented Foreign Currency Act.

The salary revision had triggered concern among flight crew, who convened privately earlier this week at Waters Edge Rooftop in Hulhumalé to discuss the implications of the pay change.

While no official protest was declared, the meeting reflected growing anxiety over potential longer-term moves toward MVR-based compensation, a shift that could have significant financial consequences for employees.

The now-reversed adjustment had been a response to the Foreign Currency Act (Law No. 32/2024), which mandates that tourism sector operators convert a portion of their foreign earnings through the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA). This policy had placed added pressure on companies like TMA by limiting direct access to foreign currency reserves.

With Maldives tourism relying heavily on uninterrupted and efficient air transfers, ensuring workforce stability at key operators like TMA is essential. The reinstatement of full USD salaries may help defuse short-term tensions, but long-term policy alignment between regulators and private sector players remains crucial for industry sustainability.