Govt changes policy on salary payments during suspension
The President acknowledged that earlier in his administration, some individuals suspected of corruption were suspended with pay and later transferred.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that a rule has been amended to ensure salaries are not paid to individuals suspended from government positions due to various issues.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at the Presidential Office on Saturday, in response to questions from journalists regarding inconsistencies in salary payments to suspended officials.
Journalists raised concerns over why some individuals suspended in the past, particularly following public criticism, had continued to receive salaries during their suspension periods, while others recently suspended were not paid during their suspension.
In response, President Muizzu stated that all recently suspended individuals have been placed on unpaid suspension. He added that only those removed from their positions on corruption charges are now suspended without pay.
When questioned specifically about employees of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) who were suspended in late 2023 over allegations related to land and flat allocations, the President said he was not aware of salary payments in such cases, noting that HDC operates as a separate company.
“You have to check. It is a company. I am talking about a person who is in a direct ministry position in the government,” he said.
However, responding to a follow-up question, the President acknowledged that earlier in his administration, some individuals suspected of corruption were suspended with pay and later transferred to other posts with higher salaries. He stated that this practice has now been discontinued.
“Earlier in the government, we had suspended people who were paid that way. But now that's the rule we changed. Now we don't do that,” the President said.
The suspension of 13 HDC employees who were under investigation for facilitating corruption in land and flat allocations has since been lifted. They were placed on paid suspension.
Additionally, two former Deputy Ministers at the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Mariam Shiuna and Malsha Shareef, who were suspended following remarks perceived as insulting towards India, continued to receive salaries during their eight-month suspension. Both individuals later resigned in September and currently hold senior positions at state-owned enterprises.
