The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has approved salary and allowance increases for the Speaker, cabinet ministers, and island council members. The changes passed during today's meeting after a proposal from Kelaa constituency MP Abdulla Shareef.
Speaker’s Pay Climbs Above Most MPs
The Speaker currently takes home MVR 73,000 in salary and allowances. That figure sits below the MVR 82,000 received by ordinary members of parliament. The gap exists because the Speaker does not collect a committee allowance.
The Deputy Speaker already earns MVR 91,000. To close the difference, the committee added a MVR 22,000 allowance for the Speaker. The new total comes to MVR 95,125.
Ministers Get Car Allowance Boost
Ministers currently receive MVR 58,500. Their pay has lagged behind senior judicial and independent institution heads after last year’s adjustments. The Chief Justice now earns MVR 91,000, judges MVR 89,000, holders of independent posts MVR 74,000, and heads of independent institutions MVR 59,000.
An earlier attempt to raise ministerial salaries was shelved after public criticism. Today the committee approved a different route: a MVR 17,000 car-related allowance. The package includes MVR 2,000 for petrol, MVR 12,000 for a driver’s salary, and MVR 3,000 for the driver’s living costs. Ministers will now take home MVR 75,000.
Island Councilors Gain Service Allowance
Island council presidents, vice presidents, and members will receive an extra MVR 5,000 service allowance. Officials said the move aims to reduce the gap with city council pay scales.
Vote Split Along Party Lines
The proposal passed with support from Progressive National Congress members on the committee. Two Maldivian Democratic Party members abstained. Hanimaadhoo constituency MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa spoke against the timing. He warned that the increases would place a heavier load on the state budget at a difficult moment.
Whether the full Parliament will back the changes remains to be seen. For now, the committee has cleared the path for higher pay packages at the top of the legislative, executive, and local government ladder.
