President Mohamed Muizzu has ratified new amendments to the Decentralization Act, officially bringing employees of the Local Government Authority (LGA) under the Maldives civil service system.
The amendments were approved by Parliament on Wednesday, receiving support from 59 lawmakers out of the 69 members present during the sitting. The bill was submitted by Hamadh Abdullah.
The revised law introduces two major changes: granting civil servant status to LGA employees and expanding the responsibilities of local councils to include waste management services.
LGA Staff to Fall Under Civil Service Framework
One of the most significant changes in the amendment is the formal inclusion of LGA employees within the civil service structure. The move is expected to standardize employment procedures, administrative oversight, and salary arrangements for staff working at the Authority.
Under the amended law, the Chief Executive Officer of the LGA will serve as the responsible authority for matters related to staff appointments, dismissals, and other employment decisions.
The law also outlines a new process for developing the Authority’s staffing structure. According to the amendment, the organizational framework must be prepared with guidance from the LGA Board before being submitted to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for approval.
Previously, administrative staff appointments were made directly by the LGA Board based on recommendations from the LGA CEO.
Deadlines Set for Organizational and Salary Structures
The amended legislation sets strict timelines for implementing the new system.
The LGA is required to formulate and submit its organizational structure to the CSC within 30 days from the date the law takes effect. Once submitted, the CSC must approve the structure within 15 days.
In addition, the National Pay Commission has been tasked with finalizing a salary framework for LGA employees within 30 days following the approval process.
The changes are expected to bring clearer governance procedures and more structured human resource management within the Authority. Supporters of the amendment say the reforms could strengthen institutional accountability and improve operational efficiency at the local governance level.
Waste Management Added to Council Responsibilities
Another key amendment expands the duties of councils across the Maldives by officially adding waste management services to their list of mandatory responsibilities.
Current legislation already requires councils to oversee essential public services such as electricity, water supply, sanitation, and sewerage systems in islands and cities. With the latest amendment, councils will now also be directly responsible for managing waste services in their respective jurisdictions.
The inclusion of waste management comes as environmental concerns and waste disposal challenges continue to grow across many islands in the Maldives. Could this mark a turning point for local environmental management? The government appears to be signaling a stronger push toward decentralized public service delivery.
