Ministry of Finance submits a circular to the Parliament of the Maldives detailing the pay deductions to be imposed on government employees due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The document submitted by the finance ministry states pay deductions will only be imposed on government employees whose basic monthly wages are above USD 1,290. The deduction percentages have been allocated as following.
- Basic wage below USD 1,290 – 0%
- Basic wage between USD 1,290 and USD 1,935 – 20%
- Basic wage between USD 1,935 and USD 3,872 – 30%
- Basic wage above USD 3,872 – 35%
Furthermore, the circular states individuals who are serving at deputy minister level or higher will have their basic wages reduced by 20% even if their basic wages are below USD 1,290. In addition, a ceiling has been set for the net take-home pay of employees who are at deputy minister level or higher. The ceilings for the take-home pay of such employees have been set as the following.
- Basic wage below USD 645 - Maximum net pay: USD 1,613
- Basic wage between USD 645 and USD 968 - Maximum net pay: USD 1,935
- Basic wage between USD 968 and USD 1,290 - Maximum net pay: USD 2,259
- Basic wage between USD 1,290 and USD 1,613 - Maximum net pay: USD 2,581
- Basic wage between USD 1,613 and USD 1,935 - Maximum net pay: USD 2,904
- Basic wage between USD 1,935 and USD 2,581 - Maximum net pay: USD 3,227
- Basic wage between USD 2,581 and USD 3,227 - Maximum net pay: USD 3,549
- Basic wage between USD 3,227 and USD 3,872 - Maximum net pay: USD 3,872
- Basic wage between USD 3,872 and USD 5,162 - Maximum net pay: USD 4,195
- Basic wage above USD 5,162 - Maximum net pay: USD 4,517
Employees of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Health Protection Agency (HPA), hospitals and medical facilities who are not political appointees are exempted from the pay deductions. In addition, staff of National Emergency Operation (NEOC) and officers of security forces are also exempted from the deductions.
The circular states pay deductions will be effective from May. The ministry said the circular will be in effect until further notice from the ministry.