Malé, Maldives – The Maldives Ministers of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail Fayyaz Ismail today declared minimum wages with wages set below the figures proposed by the Wage Advisory Board for small and large businesses.
Minimum wages for Maldivians that will go into effect starting 1 January 2022 are,
Small Businesses
- Monthly MVR 4,500, hourly MVR 21.63 against the monthly MVR 5,000 set by the Wage Advisory Board.
Medium Businesses
- Monthly MVR 7,000, hourly MVR 33.65 same as the amount proposed by the Wage Advisory Board.
Large Businesses
- Monthly MVR 8,000, hourly MVR 38.46 against the monthly MVR 8,900 set by the Wage Advisory Board.
Civil Service and public companies
- Monthly MVR 7,000, for permanent employees working daily 6 hours, same as the amount proposed by the Wage Advisory Board.
- Hourly MVR 33.65 hourly for all employees.
While the Economic Minister stated that the minimum wage was set below for some sectors due to the effect on the economy by the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism sector workers are expressing their dismay on social media.
The declaration of a minimum wage is a presidential pledge of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, with the President instituting the Salary & Wage Advisory Board on 1st May 2019.
