MDP suggests a 20 percent pay cut for parliamentarians

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) parliamentary group has proposed imposing a 20 percent pay cut on parliamentarians.

MDP parliamentary group leader, Central Henveyru MP Ali Azim tweeted on Monday evening that they had requested the Parliament Speaker, former President Mohamed Nasheed to propose the salary cut to the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on their behalf.

Majlis menbarunge musaaraige 20% unikoh dhinumah MDP parliament group ge faraathun Majlis raees medhuverikoh maaliyathu committee ah hushahalhaidhimun miadhu edhifin. @Mihaarunews @tvmaldives @sunbrk @cnm_mv @raajjemv @Sangu_tv

— ???????????? ???????????????? (@aliaazim) March 16, 2020

The move comes after Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, on Monday morning, filed a letter with the Parliament requesting a MVR 19.3 million cut in its expenditures.

Parliamentarians currently receive a monthly salary of MVR 42,500 - 20 percent of which equates to MVR 8,500. 20 percent of the monthly salary of all 87 parliamentarians equates to MVR 739,500.

Parliamentarians also receive a monthly allowance of MVR 40,000; a MVR 20,000 living allowance and a MVR 20,000 committee allowance - given based on attendance to committee meetings.

Article 272 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders says a change to the salaries and allowances of parliamentarians requires a two-third majority vote of the Parliament, as established under Article 88 (a) (ii) of the Constitution.