The salaries of civil servants and local council staff will be increased this year as part of the ongoing efforts to advance pay harmonisation, revealed President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. This announcement was made during his presidential address at the inaugural session of parliament for 2025.
This announcement aligns with the administration's broader initiative to enhance decentralisation policies, according to President Dr Muizzu. In his address, the president highlighted the commitment to empowering local councils, disclosing the decision to increase the salaries of local council employees.
The national budget for this year includes an allocation of USD 32.42 million for the harmonisation of pay across the civil service and other sectors. This funding encompasses earlier plans to raise the salaries of staff within both the judicial sector and the civil service.
"As I have previously pledged, I believe that the salaries of local council staff should undergo a positive change. With God's will, alongside the harmonised salary increase for civil servants and judicial sector staff, I am pleased to announce that the salaries of local council staff will also be increased," President Dr Muizzu stated.
President Dr Muizzu also underscored his administration's efforts to advance decentralisation by highlighting ongoing initiatives aimed at providing local councils with adequate working environments. To this end, he has been travelling to outer islands to engage with local island councils and assess the socio-economic development needs of residential communities.
"For this reason, we have contracted the construction of council secretariat buildings on 55 islands. We are also preparing to initiate the project to construct council secretariat buildings on an additional 50 islands with financial assistance from the Chinese government," President Dr Muizzu announced.
President Dr Muizzu also underscored the importance of empowering Women’s Development Committees (WDCs) in conjunction with the development of local councils. He committed to submitting amendments to relevant laws this month, aiming to enhance the authority and influence of WDCs and their members. The president has been visiting outer islands to meet with local councils and discuss the socio-economic development needs of residential communities.