Yameen calls for establishment of government salary structure

Mulaku MP Abdullah Yameen has called on the government to consider establishing a ‘Pay Commission’ to create a structure for government salaries and allowances.

Yameen, who is also the Parliamentary Group Leader for Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), said this during the debate on the declaration submitted by Galolhu-dhekunu MP Ahmed Mahloof, proposing the removal of MVR20,000 committee allowance given to Parliament Members in addition to their salary of MVR62,500.

“I propose to create a Pay Commission, which would advice the Parliament on these issues [salaries and allowances of independent institution employees and members of parliament],” Yameen said.

He said that a decision cannot be made on the issue of salaries of MPs until such a commission is created and investigations are conducted in this regard.

“We can only reasonably discuss whether to increase or reduce the salaries and allowances, after these steps are taken,” he said.

Yameen also talked about the policy for providing security to some government officials.

“The government has decided to provide MNDF [Maldives National Defence Force] security to all Cabinet Ministers. We should consider the fact that the Parliament rules of procedure states that MNDF security should also be provided to MPs, because some MPs spend from personal accounts to obtain security,” he said.