This is most noticeable in the small teashops in the West Harbour area. About two years ago the shops were leased as snack bars and lately they have begun to sell different types of food and drinks, and competition between teashops has intensified.

Niuma, 23, is one of the first women to begin working there. 'The day I began working in one of those shops I was terrified. Many people spoke to me in an abusive manner. I still hear those things. Now I don't care.'

According to Niuma, she does not feel it is wrong to work in a public place, and she believes it is important to work and become economically independent. It is much better than staying home day in and day out, without any income. 'In every way it is much better to work than stay home, that's why I came out. The most difficult problem working here is the unacceptable language,' she said.

There are 50 businesses in the Harbour, and the teashop managers have been actively hiring female waitresses, especially younger women.

Suzaanaa, 16, says, 'On the first day I was scared, and ashamed because so many men came in and called out dirty things. And they say we are the bad ones! Their behaviour is what is bad. Now I don't care, they have no understanding.'

Sonia, a fellow employee, says that the same thing happened to her, but due to the bad financial situation at home, and the benefits to all from the money she earns waitressing, she comes out to work.

'Doing this is better than staying home and being idle', says another young girl of 16 who began working two months ago. 'It pays good money. But my family isn't too happy. I'm staying on because it is important not to waste time and be bored at home.'

Madheeha from the Harbour Teashop says she turns a deaf ear to the harassment she now encounters. 'They say very dirty things. Beyond that I can't repeat it, it's so dirty. But it is low class men who say such things.'

Madheeha says it is comforting to have another girl working with her in the shop.

17 year old Ainth says, 'I started because a friend asked me. The first day I was very upset because men who walked in here thought we were bad women. Now I don't care. I don't think it is degrading work.'

Up to 4-5 girls work in teashops at the Harbour, and business is better in these shops than their competitors'.

"We get more customers if there are girls,' says Ahmed Hamin, manager of a shop employing five waitresses.

According to Hamin, working in the teashops improves the girls' business skills while providing financial benefits. 'This is better than living at home on whatever their fathers earn. Maldivians are new to all this. Later on things will get better.'

Hamin is now planning to hire girls from the atoll islands.

Most of the 50 businesses at the harbour are teashops, making between two and three thousand rufiyaa [approx. US$200] a night. There are as many as 30 girls working in these shops, and they make a significant contribution to the businesses.

The managers said that at the beginning of this year very few girls worked in the area.