The IUF Asia/Pacific conducted an organizing and building collective power training with IUF-affiliated Tourism Employees Association of Maldives [TEAM] members in the Maldives from April 24–26, 2025. The training was attended by 27 active union members and leaders, including migrant workers from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. The training was led by Brother Galih Tri Panjalu and Brother Rival Yunaldi from the IUF-affiliated Federation of Hotel, Restaurant, Plaza, Apartment, Catering and Tourism Workers’ Free Union [FSPM] in Indonesia.
The three-day training focused on organizing workers and strengthening collective power in resorts and villas operated by the Minor Group in the Maldives. The Minor Group operates nine resorts and villas in the Maldives, as well as major international restaurant chains such as Burger King, Dairy Queen, The Coffee Club, and The Pizza Company. Globally, the group manages 562 hotels in 66 countries and plans to expand to 848 hotels and resorts by 2027, including new developments in Japan and the United States.
TEAM presenting their workplace mapping including the current union density
The training included strategies for organizing union members across all nine properties and increasing union density. Workers in island resorts face unique challenges, as each resort is located on its own island, and workers typically live on the property for extended periods. This makes it difficult to reach workers and carry out union activities, requiring an effective communication and coordination strategy. One of the main demands of workers is two days off each week, so they can meet their families.
Brother Galih Pranjula, General Secretary of FSPM sharing their organizing strategies
Brother Galih and Bro. Rival shared FSPM’s experience organizing hotel workers and increasing union density through internal as well as external organizing, including workplace mapping, building contacts, anticipating and addressing workers’ responses, and maintaining a union database, planning and regular evaluation strategies.
TEAM General Secretary, Brother Mauroof
“All workers in Minor Group resorts have contributed to the company’s profits, since the first resort opened in 2006 —now it’s time for all the workers to organize and fight for their rights. The new Industrial Relation Act that unions fought for provides an opportunity to strengthen resort workers rights in the Maldives” added TEAM General Secretary, Brother Mauroof Zakir.
TEAM members discussing department wise union density and organizing strategies.
FSPM also shared their experience in drafting collective bargaining proposals and the bargaining process that ensure trade union and workers’ rights, which would result in the first ever Collective Bargaining Agreement in the Maldives under the new Industrial Relations Act, which came into effect in 2024.
The training resulted in an effective communication and co-ordination within the organizing teams at the resorts and campaign planning for an effective collective bargaining.
