Concerns about Imams across the atolls not being paid remuneration have come to light.
A local Imam speaking to ‘Sun’ has raised concerns that they did not receive their remuneration for the month ended.
According to the Imam, they were notified by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in a Viber group message about this delay, citing issues with the system that impeded processing salaries. The ministry also had not provided a date when salaries would be credited.
The settings of this Viber group do not allow general members to send messages due to which they had been unable to raise concerns directly in the group.
The Imam further noted that salaries generally get credited on the first of each following calendar month, while salaries have been credited before this date if the first of the following month fell on a public holiday.
Another local Imam, Ahmed Anwar, from GDh. Thinadhoo said they complete signing the salary sheet before the 11th of every month, and questioned about the delay in processing their pay.
“I personally am not facing difficulties since I do some other work on the side, but the other Imams have been raising concerns about the delay,” he commented.
Notably, salaries of the Imams across Greater Male’ area have already received their remuneration.
Both the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and the Ministry of Finance were unavailable for a comment.