MVR 33.8 million issued as former MP allowances

Since the government of Maldives started giving special allowances to former Members of Parliament (MPs) ten years ago, a total of MVR 33.8 million has been issued with MVR 6.4 million to be spent this year alone, said Maldives Pension Office.

Responding to questions sent by Mihaaru under the Right to Information Act, the office said on Thursday that the payment of service allowance to MPs under the Parliamentary Privileges and Powers Act started in June 2014.

So far, MVR 33.8 million has been paid to 44 people through the Pension Office.

According to the Act, members are paid financial allowances after leaving parliament and turning 55 years of age. As such, 30 percent of the salary is paid as service allowance for those who have served one term and 45 percent of the salary for those who have served two terms.

However, if the former MPs hold any public office, they will not receive the allowance during the period of service.

Parliament Members are paid MVR 82,500 in salary and allowances. This includes MVR 42,500 as base salary, MVR 20,000 as living allowance and another MVR 20,000 for attending a certain number of committee meetings. At this rate, those who complete one term would received MVR 12,750 and those who served two or more terms would receive MVR 19,125.

The allowance was first paid on 1st June, 2014 to four members. That was MVR 63,750. However, this number has continued to increase every five years, and by 1st July 2019, there were 15 members who were receiving this allowance. By the end of that year, the number went up to 21.

At the end of last month, MVR 647,062 was paid to 44 members. By the end of this year, the Pension Office will spend MVR 6.4 million on the allowance.