Budget for Employment Tribunal was increased unlawfully: Audit Report

The Audit Report of the Employment Tribunal for 2013 has revealed that the budget approved for the tribunal for 2013 was increased unlawfully by MVR 1.2 million, by Ministry of Finance.

The Audit Report stated that the budget approved by the parliament for the Employment Tribunal for 2013 was MVR 5.7 million, but it was increased in violation of regulations by MVR 1.2 million by Ministry of Finance, following which the additional money was spent by the tribunal.

The report noted that in general, the expenditures of the Employment Tribunal did not match the items stated in the budget for 2013 approved by the parliament, and they were also conducted in violation of the Public Finance Act.

The report highlighted that changes cannot be made to budgets after they are approved by the parliament unless the changes are proposed to and approved by the parliament.

Increasing budgets that have been approved by the parliament defeats the purpose of having budgets approved by the parliament, and further increases the state budget deficit, read the report.

The Auditor General also advised the Employment Tribunal to revise some of its policies regarding maintaining financial records.