A systematic review of Maldivian national laws to combat workplace bullying

Abstract

Bullying has been identified as a leading workplace stressor because of its debilitating effects on individuals, groups, and organizations. A vast literature explores the nature and consequences of workplace bullying and highlights the need for employee protection through laws and policies. While some organizations have policies on workplace bullying and certain laws can be applied to address it, few employees use these mechanisms to seek redress. This systematic review evaluates the complaint procedures, protection, prevention, and effectiveness of current laws and policies on workplace bullying in the Maldivian context. The paper also examines why legal recourse is rarely sought. A systematic analysis, supplemented with five semi-structured interviews of key informants (employment tribunal members, lawyers, a court judge, and a registrar), was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of the situation in the Maldives. The analysis reveals that the Maldivian legal system has gaps that provide little or no protection from workplace bullying. The current legislative and regulatory framework does not adequately address the power employers can exert in certain types of bullying and primarily focuses on sexual harassment. The Maldivian Constitution, which guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms in Chapter II (Arts.16-69), is vague regarding bullying. This study acknowledges that workplace bullying policies are only one type of intervention, and additional preventive measures are needed to address bullying in workplaces.