The Civil Court has ordered a former employee of the State Trading Organization (STO) to repay more than MVR 770,000 after failing to complete a company-sponsored study program abroad and resigning before his employment bond ended.
STO filed a civil lawsuit against the employee, who had been enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition program under the organization’s sponsorship in 2010. According to the company, the employee did not finish his degree and violated the terms of his agreement by leaving the job during the bonded period.
The employee did not respond to the legal proceedings, and the court delivered the ruling in absentia.
The court stated that STO had spent MVR 770,311 on the study program up to December of last year. It determined that the former employee is legally responsible for reimbursing the full amount to the organization.
The ruling requires the repayment to be made within 14 days from the issuance of the order.
The case sheds light on the responsibilities that come with company-sponsored education programs in the Maldives. Employees who receive financial support to study abroad and then leave the company before fulfilling their agreed-upon commitment could face legal action to recover the expenses.
STO has not commented publicly on whether they plan further legal measures if the repayment is not made within the court-specified period.
