Parliament on Thursday passed a bill to amend the Decentralization Act, adding waste management services to the list of responsibilities legally required of local councils.

The bill, submitted by Fuvahmulah North MP Hamad Abdulla, was passed with 59 votes in favour from the 69 MPs present. Ten MPs voted against it.

Under the amendment, waste management will be included among essential services councils must provide under Article 69(1)(a) of the Decentralization Act. Current obligations already include electricity, water supply, sanitation and sewerage services.

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

Under the revised framework, LGA administrative staff will be appointed by the Civil Service Commission based on the advice of the LGA chief executive officer, while the CEO will remain the head of the institution.

The changes come as the government continues restructuring local governance following recent reforms that abolished atoll councils. Employees previously working under atoll councils, many of whom are civil servants are being brought under the authority of the LGA administration.