Judiciary staff report to work in back in protest over salary changes

A significant number of judiciary employees working across different courts reported to work on Monday dressed in black in protest over changes to their salaries under the government’s pay harmonization, which they allege has resulted in a pay cut.

The salaries of over 20,000 civil servants, including administrative staff in the judiciary and councils, were increased under the government’s pay harmonization policy on November 1^st. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that the salaries of remaining civil servants, who have not received increments under the pay harmonization program, will be increased next year.

However, some civil servants have raised concerns, citing that the changes under pay harmonization have decreased their salaries. They include judiciary employees.

A superior court employee told Sun that staff from Family Court, Civil Court, Juvenile Court, Drug Court and Criminal Court reported to work on Monday dressed in back in protest over the changes to the pay framework.

Sun has learned that staff from magistrate courts across some islands are also protesting the changes to pay framework. In this regard, staff from Maradhoo-Feydhoo Magistrate Court and Kudahuvadhoo Magistrate Court also reported to work on Monday dressed in back.

Fuvahmulah Magistrate Court's staff protested for the same reasons on Thursday. 

A staff from Fuvahmulah Magistrate Court who spoke with Sun earlier said lower-ranked employees at the court presently take home a salary of MVR 14,000, including overtime allowances. Meanwhile, the staff noted that the salaries of administrators, who previously took home a salary of MVR 14,000, now receive up to MVR 30,000 without overtime allowances.

Nevertheless, the staff voiced concern over the increased pension deduction arising from the increase in basic salary.

According to the staff, the majority of the court’s staff are required to work overtime beyond regular hours, yet overtime pay has been capped at 10 percent, which will ultimately reduce their monthly take-home income.

“After 16:00pm in the evening, there is a continuity allowance. However, OT is not applicable between 16:00pm and 18:00pm. So, OT is only applicable after working for two hours of working. Approximately MVR 4,000 will be reduced from the monthly salaries of administrative staff,” the staff said.

Notably, a group of legal officers working in the judiciary is preparing to submit a petition to Parliament, alleging that the government’s pay harmonization policy has resulted in a reduction of their salaries.

The petition, which is being drafted for submission to the Parliament’s Judiciary Committee, the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA), and the President’s Office, has so far been signed by over 120 court employees, according to a staff member who spoke to Sun on condition of anonymity.