News

Parliament committee seeks details on councillors' pay raise

The Parliament's Public Finance Committee will be looking into the decision to revise the salaries of council members.

During Monday's sitting of the committee, members made the decision to obtain the details of the decision to increase the salaries of councillors. The committee will also review if such a move is economically feasible.

The government has decided to increase the salaries of councillors effective followig the local council election slated for April 4. While the Decentralization Act has been amended to increase the number of councillors elected, a significantly larger amount will be spent on salaries and remuneration of councillors starting April.

After discussion, the Public Finance Committee concluded that the members of the Pay Commision will be summoned to the committee to obtain further details on the matter.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had announced the decision to increase the pay of councillors at the 'Thiladhunfmathi Iruvai' conference held last month in HDh. Kulhudhuffushi. The government has sent the revised pay scheme for parliament deliberation. According to the Decentralization Act, the Parliament will decide on the remuneration and allowances of the members of the councils.

As per the President's announcement at the conference, a monthly remuneration of MVR 40,000 will be given to mayors while a deputy mayor will be paid MVR 35,000. The rumeration of city council members is MVR 30,000.

The remuneration given to atoll council presidents has been increased from MVR 25,000 to MVR 28,000 and the remuneration of island council presidents was increased from MVR 12,000 to MVR 15,000. Island council members will receive MVR 12,000, a MVR 2000 increase from the salary currently given to councillors.

Recent amendments to the Decentralization Act increased the number of councillors, under which islands with a population below 3000 will have five councillors on the island council. President Solih said the amendment was proposed after assessing the added expenditure that would be incurred due to the increase. The increment in number of councillors will not be a burden on the state, said the president while speakig at the 'Viyavathi Raajje' councillor's symposium held in December.

"We calculated [the expenditure] and believe we can afford the added expenditure. The state will be spending MVR 48 million. I do not believe this is a large amount to spend to decentralize the country and offer services and resources to the country's citizens," President Solih said.

Three councillors were elected to islands with a population of less than 3000 in the last local council election. However, the recently ratified amendments to the Decentralization Act will increase the number of councillors elected to island, atoll and city councils.