Economic Minister: Minimum wage will be declared on Monday

Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail states that a minimum wage will be declared on Monday, and that the Maldivian economy will see significant positive changes once the minimum wage is implemented next year. 

Minimum Wage Board finalized minimum wage recommendations for various categories and submitted it to the Economic Ministry on October 5. 

Fayyaz told Sun on Saturday morning that the rates finalized for minimum wage will be announced on Monday, November 8.  

He said that the Maldivian economy will see major changes once the minimum wage is implemented. 

“I believe this is no simple matter. This will affect major changes to the economy. So, this involves a very final balance for us. As I have also said, a bad decision in this will have an adverse effect,” he said. 

Fayyaz said that the rates were finalized after taking into consideration the rights of both employees and employers. 

“I believe this will have a positive impact on both economy and trade. This means, the continuous talk that Maldivian employees are undisciplined. A good wage will affect changes. And it will force discipline,” he said. 

Fayyaz said that the minimum wage will be implemented in January. 

Minimum Wage Board set wages based on four main categories.  

Employees in small enterprises working eight-hour work days will receive over MVR 6,000 per month, while employees in the medium enterprise category – which includes civil servants – will receive MVR 7,000 per month for six-hour work days. Meanwhile, employees working eight-hour work days in large enterprises will receive over MVR 10,000 per month.