Speaker’s monthly pay to rise to MVR 95,000, ministers’ to MVR 75,000

Parliament's Finance Committee on Wednesday approved increases to the allowances paid to the Speaker of Parliament, cabinet ministers and island council members, raising their total monthly remuneration.

The changes were approved following a proposal submitted by ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP Abdulla Shareef, who represents the Kelaa constituency.

Shareef proposed introducing an additional allowance for the Speaker, increasing the vehicle allowance paid to cabinet ministers and providing a service allowance to councillors.

Under the changes approved by the committee, the Speaker of Parliament will receive an additional monthly allowance of MVR 22,000, bringing the total monthly salary and allowances for the position to MVR 95,125.

The Speaker currently receives MVR 73,325 per month in salary and allowances, according to the document submitted to the committee by the Parliament Secretariat.

The committee also approved increasing the vehicle allowance for cabinet ministers to MVR 17,000 per month.

As a result, the total monthly remuneration of a cabinet minister will increase from MVR 58,500 to MVR 75,500, representing an increase of MVR 17,000.

Island council members will receive an additional service allowance of MVR 5,000 per month under the approved changes.

The proposals were passed by a majority of committee members.

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa, who represents the Hanimaadhoo constituency and is also known as Gappo, opposed the increases. He attended Wednesday's committee meeting.

The Parliament Secretariat's submission stated that the additional allowance for the Speaker was intended to address differences between the remuneration paid to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other members of Parliament.

According to the document, the Speaker's current monthly remuneration of MVR 73,325 is lower than that received by both the Deputy Speaker and ordinary MPs.

The Deputy Speaker currently receives MVR 91,000 per month, while other MPs receive MVR 82,500 in salary and allowances.

The proposed MVR 22,000 allowance would bring the Speaker's total monthly remuneration to MVR 95,125, placing it above that of the Deputy Speaker and other MPs.

The committee document also outlined the reasons for increasing ministers' allowances.

It noted that cabinet ministers' salaries and allowances had remained unchanged for several years, while the remuneration of senior officials and members of independent institutions, including those in the judiciary, ranged from MVR 81,000 to MVR 91,000 per month.

The document cited the difference between these remuneration levels and those of cabinet ministers as a justification for the proposed increase.

The Finance Committee's decision comes as the government continues to face questions over public expenditure and the management of state finances.