Regulations governing the Police Retirement Allowance have been amended to stop retired police officers from receiving the allowance if they are appointed or elected to another public position after retirement.

The amendment follows directives by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to curb rising government expenditure.

The President said there was growing public concern over retired officials receiving a retirement allowance in addition to a salary while serving in other government roles.

He said he did not believe the practice was appropriate and instructed that the regulations governing the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), the police, and the civil service be amended and gazetted accordingly.

Under the revised Police Retirement Regulations, a person receiving a monthly police retirement allowance will have the allowance suspended if they are elected to public office or take up employment at a state institution or a state-owned company. The allowance will remain suspended for the duration of their tenure.

The regulations state that the allowance will be reinstated in the month following the individual’s final retirement from public service.

Retirees who re-enter public service are required to notify the relevant authority in writing. If a person continues to receive the retirement allowance while employed due to failure to notify, the funds must be returned to the pension office as directed by the police.

The amendment further states that if a retiree moves to another job and becomes eligible for a separate retirement package upon leaving that position, they are encouraged to choose that package. In such cases, they will no longer be entitled to the police retirement allowance.

Retired police officers have frequently been appointed to senior positions at major state-owned enterprises, including Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) and Housing Development Corporation (HDC).