STELCO suspends employee who admitted to forced PNC sign-ups on live TV

A STELCO HR employee has been suspended after stating on live television that employees are required to fill out and submit forms to join the ruling party PNC.

The issue came to light when Raajje TV’s head of programs, Amir Saleem, called STELCO’s HR department landline during a live morning show on Thursday. Amir asked which number employees should send a screenshot of the form to after signing up for PNC.

The employee who answered on behalf of STELCO’s HR confirmed that the signature forms should be sent to PNC and that employees would be admitted to the party.

The incident has triggered widespread criticism of STELCO on social media.

ރާއްޖެޓީވީގެ 'ފަށާއިރު' ޕްރޮގްރާމުގައި މި ކުންފުނީގެ އެޗް.އާރް ޑިޕާޓްމަންޓަށް ގުޅިކަމަށް ބުނެ ދެކެވުނު ވާހަކަތަކާ ގުޅިގެން ދަންނަވަމެވެ.

މި ކުންފުންޏަކީ ރައްޔިތުންގެ ދިރިއުޅުމާ ސީދާ ގުޅިފައިވާ އެންމެ މުހިންމު އަސާސީ ޚިދުމަތްތައް ފޯރުކޮށްދިނުމުގެ އެންމެ އިސް ޤައުމީ ޒިންމާ…

— STELCO (@STELCOMALDIVES) September 3, 2026

In a statement posted on social media, STELCO said the company’s time and resources are dedicated to fulfilling its national and social obligations. The company said the employee has been suspended pending an investigation into the incident, noting perhaps that remarks implying political influence at the SOE could undermine its service responsibilities.

All recent governments in Maldives have been accused of pressuring employees of state-owned enterprises to join the ruling party. Allegations of jobs and promotions being tied to party membership have persisted for years.

At the same time, complaints of illegal admissions to political parties have repeatedly been raised and protested, with no change yet.

Since then, online registration for political parties has been introduced. The Election Commission has said there is no doubt that the current register is 100 percent legit.