MVR 164.3 Million given out as income support

Maldives Monetary Authority tower | Photo: Maldives Independent

Male’, Maldives – The Finance Ministry of Maldives has announced that MVR 164.3 Million has been given out as income support to the citizens whose jobs were affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the statistics revealed by the Finance Ministry, till the 10th of this month, 13,177 people have been given MVR 164.3 Million as income support at the fixed rate of MVR 5,000 per person.

A study conducted by UNDP and the Economic Ministry found that the pandemic has affected the employment status of over 45,000 people in the Maldives.

This is why, since May 20 of this year, the government of Maldives has been giving out income support allowance under the government’s economic relief package to individuals who are not able to provide for themselves and their families, due to the negative impact on their incomes caused by the ongoing pandemic.

Such individuals who are eligible to receive income support include employees who have been terminated, put on no-pay leave or suspended from their jobs as well. The individuals who are on probation and temporary positions also meet the requirements needed to receive allowance. They also must be between the age 18 and 65 years.

According to the Ministry of Economic Development, any individual who had to undergo loss of employment or change in pay since December of 2019, may apply for the allowance.

On early December, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced that the government will be issuing income support to those who are in need of it until the end of this year.

The Ministry urges all eligible candidates to register and send in the applications as soon as possible through the Job Center’s online portal.