The administration has implemented a sweeping overhaul of the compensation structure for the leaders of the Women’s Development Committees operating across the nation’s cities and islands, reclassifying these committee presidents as full-time workers and introducing sharp salary increases following a formal review.
Elected to five-year terms under the Decentralisation Act, a committee dedicated to the advancement of women is established on every island. These bodies provide vital counsel to local councils regarding island development while advocating for community and women empowerment, though historically, their low remuneration has remained a significant concern. Under the newly reviewed framework, the monthly salary for city committee presidents will surge to USD 2,141.76, inclusive of allowances, up from USD 454.61, while island committee presidents will see their monthly pay elevated to USD 1,362.53 from USD 389.22.
Additional adjustments have been applied to subordinate roles within the organisation. City committee vice presidents will now earn USD 454.61, adjusted from USD 421.91, while island committee vice presidents will receive USD 389.22, up from USD 356.52. Monthly compensation for city committee members has been raised to USD 389.22 from USD 324.83, and island committee members have seen an increase to USD 324.83 from USD 259.86.
As local councils embark upon their fifth term, these salary adjustments mark a historic transformation for the women’s development committees, according to Mohamed Nimal, the chief executive officer of the Local Government Authority. This development serves as a positive indication of appreciation for the work carried out by these women, Nimal stated. Fulfilling the promises established by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the initiation of the Ramadan allowance alongside the salary hikes for committee presidents will act as an additional source of motivation, the chief executive officer added.
In advance of the annual budget presentation, two structural shifts were formalised to reinforce the institutional capacity of WDCs. The proportion of the local council budget allocated to these committees, previously set at 5 per cent, has been doubled to 10 per cent. The Ramadan allowance provided to committee members will now be financed directly through the broader council budget rather than being drawn from the committees' independent funds, policy adjustments enacted by the president with the explicit intention of further empowering the women's development committees.