Opposition against reducing civil servants salaries

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

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majliss1habaru Members of the People’s Majlis on Tuesday have expressed that the salaries of civil servants must not be reduced without reducing the number of political appointees like state ministers and councilors.

Members expressed this while debating on the urgent motion submitted by Eydhafushi region member Ahmed Saleem concerning the government’s decision to reduce the salaries of the civil servants and government staff effective next month.

Most members who spoke on the motion expressed that reducing the salaries of 30,000 civil servants would affect over 150,000 people directly or indirectly. They expressed that while the salaries of civil servants are to be reduced, the government must reduce the number of political appointees and that the salaries of civil servants should only be reduced as the last resort.

Members also noted that when the government increased the salaries of government staff, nearly six months ago, to one billion rufiyaa, the global economy was already on the downturn and that the government, today, is forced to reduce the salaries because of the previous irresponsible action.

Members of the opposition alliance, DRP, PA, criticized the government over the proposed reduction in salaries. However, members of the ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) expressed that due to the country’s economic situation, the government has no other choice but to reduce the salaries as proposed. They also highlighted that high number of civil servants in Maldives as compared to other countries.

DRP, Naifaru region member Ahmed Mohamed said while the government was proposing to reduce salaries of civil servants due to economic difficulties, the government was still increasing the number of political appointees. In this regard, he noted that government was appointing ambassadors to various countries and appointing people to various companies.

“If the government has any sincerity it must first reduce the number of political appointees, if that does not suffice, then only must the salaries of civil service be reduced. This proposal to reduce the salaries of civil servants without reducing the number political appointees cannot be accepted” Naifaru region member Ahmed Mohamed said.

“When the government is facing budget constraints, it is opening up embassies and appointing ambassadors, it is forming companies and forming province office” he further said.

Vilimaafannu region member Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik said he will not agree to reduce a single cent from the salaries of the civil servants, defense force personnel and police officers. Saying that President Nasheed was incompetent, he called on the President to step down immediately.

“Government salaries have not been reduced for a long time, not even a cent has been reduced from salaries of civil servants, only increased, and it has been like this for ages, the people has never got much at any time” Nihan said.

Faresmaathoda region member Ibrahim Mutthalib said the government was proposing to reduce civil service salaries due to its previous irresponsible actions. He claimed that ongoing speculations on civil servants being made redundant were quite common and that these speculations have affected civil servants physiologically.

“Intimidation and dismissing employees who are not from MDP, dismissing employees from companies who supported candidates of other parties in the recent parliamentary elections are tactics practiced by this government” Mutthalib accused.

Manchangolhi South member Maria Ahmed Didi said when the new government assumed power the country’s economy was already in bad shape. She revealed that out of the seven billion rufiyaa the state receives as income, around five billion is spent on some 32,000 civil servants. She said, as a result, the government has to manage the country, with just two or three billion rufiyaas.

“We have to ask ourselves, is this fair or just? I would like to say here , that it is not our party’s policy to discuss things there , in the Majlis , the moment it happens, tonight, we are embarking on a program to seek public opinion, we will come back , and discuss this more broadly, with the views and opinion of the people “ MDP chairperson Maria Ahmed Didi said.

Bilehdhoo region member Ahmed Hamza said civil servants must be given adequate salaries but if they become a burden, then it is incumbent on the government to address the matter.

“I do not wish to dismiss any civil servant unless he or she is given a choice; President Nasheed was elected by the people to introduce democratic good governance, I believe that his government is acting on this principle, I believe the government would provide a choice for every civil servant to be made redundant, if employment cannot be provided then funding should be provided for him to establish a small business” Hamza said.

Nolhivarum region member Mohamed Nasheed (colonel) said that he believed every body was aware of the current economic difficulties and that what ever required easing the difficulties must be done. He revealed when the government proposed to reduce the wages of civil servants, the government also proposed to reduce wages of political appointees, including that of the President and the Vice President.

“I propose to give a percentage of the wages of the honorable members to strengthen the economy” he said.

Yesterday’s Majlis sitting was chaired by Speaker Abdulla Shahid.

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