An issue concerning the delay in doubling the salaries of Maldives Police Service and Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) personnel, as promised by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu during his presidential election campaign, has been submitted to the parliament.
In the issue submitted to Parliament yesterday, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)'s Central Fuvahmulah constituency MP Hussain Mohamed Didi argued that President Muizzu made this statement during his campaign when former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration had already prepared a framework to increase the salaries of Police and MNDF officers starting from January this year.
President Muizzu announced doubling the salaries of police and MNDF officers at a rally held at Artificial Beach on September 15 during the presidential election campaign. Providing details, he added that he would increase the salary by 35 percent in 2024, 35 percent in 2025, and 30 percent in 2028, effectively doubling the salaries.
The issue claims that the government has postponed the salary hike, which was earlier scheduled to take effect from March 1. It has been notified that the increment could only be put into effect if the economic situation improves by then, the issue stated.
In response to the Pay Commission's statement, the police said that the Finance Ministry has informed them that the salaries of police officers will increase starting from March 1. However, the raise would be implemented over a five-year period.
However, President Muizzu has said the country's economic situation will not improve in the next two to three months and the salary raise proposed to the Finance Ministry in increasing the police and MNDF personnel's pay is not reflective of double the salary, the issue reads.
"... Because it is not a double salary increment and it is a structure that goes against the presidential pledge and because these things are delayed, it can undermine confidence in these agencies," the issue states.
Therefore, with the uncertainty around whether the salary will be doubled, the case calls to expedite fulfilling this pledge.
The previous government had decided to revise the salary structure of a Constable rank policeman, increasing it from MVR 11,000 to MVR 15,400, and the salary of an employee with a Private rank in the military would see an increment from MVR 11,500 to MVR 16,300.
It is not yet clear whether these numbers will also change with the changes in the pay structure by this government. However, according to the police, the finance ministry has informed them that the salaries of the police personnel will be raised from March 1.
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