MATI Chronicle

 

Tax Bills

 

MATI submitted to the government concerns over raising taxes and import duties as the Government planned to increase the current T-GST rate from 3.5% to 6% from 2012 and to 10% from 2013.

Our recommendation was to keep the present rate at 3.5% until the end of 2012 and then increase to a maximum of 7% from 1st January 2013 onwards. 

We are also proposed to change the implementation date to no earlier than 1st January 2012 or even later.

 

MMA Act

MATI’s position on the MMA requirement to make local transactions in Rufiyaa was that those who are able to make payments in foreign currency should be able to do so. 

MATI submitted member concerns to the President expressing the serious consequences that the economy and the tourism industry will be faced with if the Foreign Exchange Regulations were to be implemented as it were.

 

Import/Export Law

MATI submitted recommendations to the President to reconsider provisions of Import/Export Law.

Resort Security

MATI submitted recommendations to the President regarding the Regulation on Strikes and requested to expedite the formulation of the Regulation. MATI also worked with the National Security Advisory Committee (NSAC) regarding the formulation of a training programme for resort security staff.

 

Tourism Act

MATI submitted recommendations to the People’s Majlis amendment to the Tourism Law 2/99 proposing that security procedures police introduce to the resorts to be in consultation with the industry and that instead of supervision it should be period compliance checks to see whether the procedures are in place and adhered to.

Employment 

MATI submitted recommendations to the President regarding employment issues in the tourism sector and sent letters to Members of Parliament outlining MATI’s recommendations for revisions to the Employment Act 2/2008. 

One of the outcomes was the revision of quota of foreign employment at resorts upto 55% of the total staff from the previous 50%.