Parliament approves transfer of foreign service staff’s salary allocation to Finance Ministry

Parliament, on Monday, has passed the bill proposing the amendment to the Foreign Service Act which would transfer the salary allocation of foreign service employees to Finance Ministry.

The bill proposing amendments to the Foreign Service Act was submitted to the Parliament by Dhuvaafaru MP Mohamed Ismail, on behalf of the government. Following their review of the bill, Foreign Relations Committee had decided to pass the bill as submitted.

At today’s parliamentary sitting, the bill was passed by the unanimous votes of 44 members who took part in the voting.

Prior to this amendment – the salary and allowance structure of foreign service employees is formulated by the President’s Office. With this amendment – the work will be carried out by Finance Ministry in accordance to a policies set down by the National Pay Commission.

Maldives Foreign Service Act which establishes foreign service as a separate service from civil service was ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed into law in last November. The Act will come into force in May 14.

The implementation of Maldives Foreign Service Act will see the establishment of a completely separate institution called ‘Maldives Foreign Service’. The institution will embody the ministry and oversee all Maldivian missions and consular posts. The Foreign Secretary will be the highest-ranking member of the foreign service staff.