Police say salary increase followed pay‑framework rules, not election timing

Maldives Police Service has denied claims circulating on social media that officers received a salary increase to coincide with the upcoming local council elections.

Assistant Commissioner of Police and spokesperson Ahmed Shifan said the adjustment has nothing to do with elections, and is simply the result of a change that was pre‑approved under the state pay framework.

Shifan explained that it has now been two years since police shifted to the state pay framework on 1 January, and under that framework, the post allowance automatically moves to the second tier after two years.

He said the allowance was already approved and becomes payable only after officers complete two years under the framework.

ދައުލަތުގެ ޕޭ ފްރޭމްވޯކަށް @PoliceMv ފުލުހުން ބަދަލުވިތާ 2026 މާރިޗު 1 އަށް ދެ އަހަރު ފުރިފައިވާތީ، އެ ފްރޭމްވޯކުގައި ވާ ގޮތުގެ މަތިން، އެ ދުވަހުން ފެށިގެން ފުލުހުންގެ މަގާމުގެ އެލަވަންސް ދެވަނަ ހަރުފަތަށް ވަނީ ބަދަލުކޮށްފައެވެ. މި އެލަވަންސަކީ ޕޭ ފްރޭމްވޯކަށް ޢަމަލުކުރަން ފެށި…

— Ahmed Shifan (@Shifan4040) March 31, 2026

According to Shifan, the change applies to officers who have remained in the same rank and grade for two years and have scored above 75 percent in performance evaluations for two consecutive years.

Police salaries were previously revised in March 2024, when the new structure came into effect, resulting in a 35 percent increase at the time. It was the first time since 2009 that police salaries were raised along with the basic salary.

The Finance Ministry later reported that staff expenditure rose by 7.5 percent last year due to the harmonisation of police and military pay.