Ministers to get MVR 75,500 monthly as parliament approves allowance increases

Parliament on Wednesday approved increases to the salaries and allowances of cabinet ministers and local council members, following recommendations made by the Finance Committee last week.

The changes were approved with 42 votes from MPs of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), while 12 MPs from the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted against them.

The Finance Committee had endorsed increases to the remuneration of ministers, councillors and the Speaker of Parliament at its meeting last Wednesday.

Under the changes approved by Parliament, the monthly car allowance for cabinet ministers will increase to MVR 17,000.

This will raise the total monthly salary and allowances received by a cabinet minister from MVR 58,500 to MVR 75,500, an increase of MVR 17,000.

Parliament also approved a monthly allowance of MVR 5,000 for local council members.

With the additional allowance, the monthly remuneration of council presidents will increase from MVR 25,500 to MVR 30,500.

Deputy council presidents will receive MVR 25,000 per month, compared with the current MVR 20,000.

The monthly remuneration of other council members will increase from MVR 18,000 to MVR 23,000.

Parliament also approved increases to the remuneration of the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice, bringing their monthly salaries and allowances to approximately MVR 95,000 each.

The increases were recommended by the Finance Committee as part of its review of remuneration for senior state officials.

The decisions come amid concerns over government expenditure and the country's economic situation.

A resolution had been submitted to Parliament opposing salary increases for senior state officials at a time when the government was implementing measures to reduce public spending.

The resolution argued that increasing the remuneration of senior officials was unacceptable while the government was introducing expenditure-reduction measures that placed additional financial pressure on the public.

It also raised concerns about the country's economic situation and the implications of increasing spending on senior officials.

However, Parliament rejected the resolution without accepting it for consideration.

The salary and allowance increases were subsequently approved with the support of the PNC majority.