The Civil Service Regulation has been amended where if a civil service retiree were to take a government position again, their pension would be suspended for the duration of their employment.

As per the Civil Service Commission's (CSC) amendment, if a civil servant who has retired were to be appointed to a state position, or if they were to attend work at a state or government-owned company, their pension would be halted for the duration.

The amendment states that the retiree would begin receiving their pension once again the month after they leave their position.

The CSC said that if a retiree were to take a position at a state or government-owned company, the Pension Office is to be notified.

The CSC also said that if they were to work again, not inform the Pension Office and were to receive their pension, they would have to pay it back to the state.

Sectors who give out long-term pensions include the police, MNDF, Customs, Immigration and Corrections. Previously, those who retire from such sectors would continue receiving their pension even after they are appointed to an elected position.

The Police Service Act also saw the same amendment last week.

There are 13 state institutions that have separate pension schemes, with an expenditure of MVR 272 million for the schemes being set aside this year. Double pensions saw an expenditure of MVR 266 million last year. There has been an MVR 70 million increase for double pensions over the last five years.