Parliament settles on wages for Child Rights Ombudsman

The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has settled on a salary of MVR 35,000 for the Ombudsmen appointed under the Child Rights Protection law.

The Act ratified by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on November 20, last year states that an independent ombudsman should be appointed. 

The position’s salary was decided by the Parliamentary committee today. The basic salary of the position is MVR 35,00 with and additional MVR 10,000 as allowances. The figures were proposed by Hulhumeedhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb and were passed unanimously by all eight Committee members.

Differences have been noticeable among some MPs regarding the issue. Some MPs even noted the relevance of the Ombudsmen position. MPs stated that at a time when the income of many citizens in the country was drastically affected, appointing an Ombudsmen was not of top priority.

MP for Hanimaadhoo Abdul Gafoor Moosa stated that the citizens were more in need of settling loans and rebuilding their lives.

MPs had even expressed concern that the salary issue was brought up at a time when the government was fully focused on reducing expenditure.

Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef stated that a provision of a previously passed act was a required one.

However, even he agreed that based on the current situation, the salary and allowances related to the position must be of minimum. The MP also stated that the position did not have many responsibilities imposed and the salary and wages should fully depend upon the financial status and prosperity of the country.