The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has announced that salary increments for civil servants will now be granted from the date an employee becomes entitled, rather than from the date the Ministry of Finance approves the increment.
Under the previous practice, civil servants who transitioned to the state salary structure received increments only after the Ministry of Finance approved the change and the matter was submitted to the CSC, meaning many employees received increments later than the date they actually qualified.
The CSC said the rule was revised on Wednesday.
According to a circular signed by CSC Chairman Mohamed Mujthaz, employees will now receive increments from the date of entitlement, provided that:
all requirements for the increment are met,  
the Ministry of Finance approves the increment, and  
the case is submitted to the CSC.  
Civil servants existing Velaanaage Building. (Sun Photo / Mohamed Hayyaan)
Civil servants began receiving revised salaries in November last year, under the government’s broader pay harmonisation programme. The Finance Ministry’s Job Matrix outlines the new salary structures across multiple sectors, including:
business administration  
education  
health  
administrative and fiscal roles  
accountants  
Media Council staff  
Aviation Command personnel  
The matrix details salary changes by job category and field.
Photo shows Velaanaage; a building where several government offices are located.
Concerns over reduced pay in some sectors
Despite the overall salary revision, employees in several sectors have raised concerns about reduced take‑home pay following the harmonisation.
Judiciary staff recently staged a silent protest by wearing black clothing. Some councillors, including Male' City Mayor Adam Azim, have publicly stated that certain council employees saw reductions in their salaries.  
The government has said the harmonisation effort aims to equalise public‑sector wages and ensure a dignified standard of living for all state employees. However, the transition has led to discrepancies in some institutions, prompting calls for further adjustments.