The government has proposed amendments to the Decentralization Act that would make waste management a mandatory service for island and city councils.

The bill, submitted by Fuvahmulah North MP Hamad Abdulla, was presented for its first reading in parliament today.

Under the proposed amendment, waste management services would be added to the list of essential services councils are legally required to provide under Article 69-1(A) of the Decentralisation Act.

Current provisions already require councils to provide electricity, water supply, sanitation and sewerage services.

The bill also proposes changes to the employment status of administrative staff at the Local Government Authority (LGA).

At present, administrative employees of the authority are politically appointed staff selected by the LGA board based on recommendations from the CEO.

If passed, the amendment would place LGA administrative staff under the Civil Service Commission, with appointments made on the advice of the LGA's CEO.

The CEO would remain the responsible head of the institution.

The proposed changes come as the government moves to restructure local governance following recent amendments abolishing Atoll Councils.

As a result, the government has decided to place employees previously working under Atoll Councils, many of whom are civil servants under the authority’s administration.