MDP: Civil servants’ salary need to be increased, even by reducing ministers

Opposition MDP, on Monday, remarked that the current administration has to proceed with incrementing the salaries of civil servants, even if it entails reducing the number of individuals appointed as deputy ministers and state ministers.

At Monday’s parliamentary sitting, opposition MDP, the majority party, was awarded the opportunity to respond to the presidential address which was delivered on February 5th.

The party’s parliamentary group leader, Alifushi MP Mohamed Rasheed Hussain (Bigey), who delivered the response, expressed concern of the lack of mention of the pay harmonization work initiated MDP’s former administration. He cited the low salary as the most prevalent issue faced by civil servants.

Therewith, he stressed the importance of the current administration increasing the salaries of civil servants through the former administration’s pay harmonization efforts. He expressed discontent over the lack of enforcement of the initiative.

In this trajectory, he said the pay harmonization must be implemented even if it entails reducing other expenditures, such as reducing the number of deputy ministers.

MP Hussain said it was extremely concerning that political appointees have been appointed to the government without increasing the salaries of civil servants, police and military personnel despite being included in the budget.

He added that the quality of civil service staff can only be improved by recruiting capable staff – which he said can only be attained by bringing positive changes to their salary.

While concern has been raised over the high number of political appointees in the government – in his presidential address, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced his decision against making any further appointments to senior political post, subject to extenuating circumstances.  

It is an electoral pledge of President Muizzu to cap the number of political appointed in his administration at 700.

However, following the assumption of office on November 17, a total of 91 state ministers and 163 deputy ministers have been appointed so far.  There is also an individual appointed to the government on the level of a senior minister while there are 20 persons appointed to the government on ministerial level apart from the 22 cabinet ministers. 

Over MVR 10 million ins incurred per month for their salaries.