Former MDP chairperson and economic minister Fayyaz Ismail has condemned the Public Accounts Committee’s approval of allowance increases for the Speaker of Parliament, ministers’ drivers and island councillors, describing the moves as a huge insult to citizens facing rising living costs.
The committee approved a proposal by ruling PNC MP Abdulla Shareef to grant Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla a new monthly allowance of MVR 22,000. This raises the Speaker’s total monthly remuneration to MVR 95,125. Parliamentary staff noted the measure addresses disparities, as ordinary MPs and the Deputy Speaker receive committee allowances that the Speaker does not.
The committee also approved package adjustments for ministers’ drivers proposed by PNC MP Mohamed Mamdooh, raising driving, petrol and living allowances to a total of MVR 17,000 monthly. A MVR 5,000 flat monthly service allowance increase was passed for all island council tiers.
Fayyaz criticised the decisions, saying Parliament has done no real work and the government has achieved no tangible results, yet lawmakers are raising salaries. Opposition MDP MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa voted against the measure, citing economic conditions, but the PNC majority approved it.
Public criticism has highlighted the contrast with minimum wage levels, which range from around MVR 4,500 to MVR 8,000 in the private sector and MVR 7,000 in the public sector for many workers.
The allowances have drawn attention amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
