Families of police officers who die in service to receive medical benefits
Changes have also been made to the calculation of financial benefits paid to families of officers who die while performing their duties.
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The Police Employment Regulations have been amended to provide medical benefits through the Maldives Police Service to eligible family members of police officers who die while in service.
Previously, provisions in the regulations for medical care for family members applied to serving police officers. Families of officers who died while performing their duties were instead entitled to financial benefits from the state.
An amendment introduced on Tuesday adds a provision to Article 86 of the regulations, extending medical benefits to the families of officers who die in the line of duty on the same basis as those provided to the families of serving officers.
Changes have also been made to the calculation of financial benefits paid to families of officers who die while performing their duties.
Under the amendment, where a deceased officer would have received a promotion in rank, benefits will be calculated based on the salary attached to that rank.
The regulations provide two forms of financial support to eligible family members.
A one-off payment is calculated by taking 140 per cent of the officer’s salary and allowances at the time of death and multiplying that amount by the number of years the officer served.
Eligible family members are also entitled to a monthly payment equivalent to 140 per cent of the officer’s basic salary at the time of death.
The benefits are available to the officer’s spouse until remarriage. Where the officer’s wife was pregnant at the time of death, the child is eligible for benefits until the age of 18.
Children who were under the officer’s legal and Islamic guardianship are eligible until they reach 18. The officer’s parents are also eligible for as long as they remain alive.
The regulations have also been amended to establish provisions for holding a formal funeral ceremony for police officers who die while performing their duties.
Whether such a ceremony is held will depend on the circumstances of the officer’s death, the nature of the incident and the officer’s service.
The decision to hold a formal funeral ceremony will be submitted to the Executive Management Board and determined by the board.
