Consultations to draft legislation for the Maldives' National Service Bill have officially begun.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Labour, and Skills Development led the first session on Sunday, bringing together key stakeholders from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) and the Maldives Police Service (MPS).

The National Service Programme, announced by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on November 4, 2024, aims to provide mandatory national service for young Maldivians over the age of 16 who have completed their secondary education but are unable to continue their studies or find employment.

The programme, which is set to commence in 2025, will bolster the personnel of the MNDF and MPS by recruiting approximately 4,000 individuals for military service and 1,000 for the police force.

President Dr Muizzu highlighted that recent statistics show that between 500 and 1,000 students complete their O-levels each year but remain unemployed. The National Service Programme aims to address this gap, offering employment opportunities while strengthening the nation’s security services.

The consultation, which gathered insights from the MNDF and MPS, marks the first step in drafting the National Service Bill.

The Ministry is working closely with all relevant authorities to ensure the legislation meets the needs of the programme and provides clear guidelines for its implementation.