Parliament Approves Salary Increase for Judges and Councilors
Photo: People’s Majilis
Parliament has approved a proposal to increase the salaries of judges, councilors, and leaders of independent institutions following a vote, yesterday.
The decision, outlined in a report by the Public Accounts Committee, garnered 69 votes in favour during the parliamentary session.
Initially, the committee’s report included a provision to raise the salaries of parliamentarians, but this clause was later retracted due to widespread public backlash. Furthermore, references to enhancing the pay of the President and Vice President were also omitted from the final report.
Under the approved plan, the pay rise will apply to judges across all courts, councilors, leaders of independent institutions, and certain other comparable positions. This encompasses roles such as the Governor of Maldives Monetary Authority, Prosecutor General, Auditor General, Children’s Ombudsperson, Commissioner General of Taxation, as well as the President, Vice President, and board members of the Privatization and Corporatization Board.
As per the revised salary structure, the Chief Justice is set to receive a monthly salary of MVR 91,000, while Supreme Court judges will be entitled to MVR 89,000 per month.
City Council Mayors will see their monthly earnings increase to MVR 46,000, whereas island council presidents will now receive MVR 25,000 monthly, and atoll council presidents will be paid MVR 33,000 per month.
Meanwhile, Presidents of independent institutions are slated to receive a monthly salary of MVR 59,000, with Vice Presidents earning slightly less at MVR 55,000.
Additionally, the pay of the Prosecutor General, Commissioner General of Taxation, and Auditor General has been raised to MVR 74,000 per month each.