Transparency Maldives has urged against parliament MPs fixing their own remuneration, citing that the practice creates a conflict of interest.
A statement by Transparency Maldives said that the parliament's decision to increase the remuneration of MPs a few weeks before the end of the current term of the legislative body reflects adversely on the intention and integrity of the lawmakers.
The organization had urged to reform the parliament regulations ensuring MPs did not enjoy the discretion of fixing their own salaries.
The Public Accounts Committee of parliament last week made the decision to hike the remuneration of the President, Vice President, Cabinet Ministers, Prosecutor General, Auditor General, MMA Governor, and councilors.
The committee agreed to increase the president's remuneration to MVR 120,000 from MVR 100,000. For the Vice President, the committee agreed to raise the salary from MVR 75,000 to MVR 93,000.
Additionally, the decision was made to increase the salaries of ministers from MVR 66,000 to MVR 72,000.
Transparency, in its statement, also recognized the lack of a proper minimum wage for employed citizens in the country and highlighted the disparity among people in accessing necessary services. The organization criticized the parliament's decision to hike the salaries of its MPs, citing that it was unacceptable for public representatives to increase their own remuneration without first addressing the economic plight of the general public.
The organization also highlighted the previous government's attempts at comprehensive pay harmonization nationwide with the aim of eliminating social class disparity among citizens. Transparency Maldives claimed that fixing remuneration for a state position was in contradiction with the pay harmonization efforts.
"During the 2019 efforts for parliamentary regulation reforms, our organization had submitted amendments aimed at establishing a robust system to assess the expenditure of parliament MPs, along with the recommendation to completely discard committee allowances. This organization does not accept that MPs should be separately given an incentive for their committee responsibilities since it falls within the legal duties of elected lawmakers," Transparency Maldives said.
The organization also stressed the importance of implementing the bill on the financial accountability of senior state officials and noted that the bill has remained at the Public Accounts Committee since its initial submission last year. Transparency Maldives said the bill was a crucial piece of legislation in ensuring the elimination of illicit enrichment and corruption.
According to Transparency, efforts to surge the MPs remuneration without improving the system of their accountability reflects adversely on the intentions and motivations of the lawmakers.
The organization stated that it was necessary for all MPs to reject the remuneration increment bill to sustain the public's trust in state bodies regarding its efforts for democratic reform and growth.
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