President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has announced a wage raise for healthcare sector workers from the beginning of May 2023.

He made this announcement during his fifth presidential address, delivered during the inaugural sitting of the People’s Majlis on Monday morning.

The presidential address saw President Solih shedding light on pay harmonization for those working in the healthcare sector as well as allowances for civil service employees.

As such, the president revealed that the process of increasing the salaries of the healthcare sector workers, was underway this year.

The salary hike is to be effective from 1 May 2023.

The president also announced that all government employees who are yet to receive 35 percent civil service allowance, will be eligible to receive the allowance from 1 May 2023 as well.

Further, the president announced that the salaries of university employees would also observe a positive change beginning March.

He added that once the pay harmonization process is complete, all civil service employees will benefit from pay raises.

These include for employees in the judicial sector, civil servants, prayer leaders of mosques as well as those who call for prayers at the mosque

Highlighting that the significant hike in the minimum wage and the equitable distribution of tourism sector service charges had significantly improved the quality of life of the employees and their families, President Solih shed light on the value of having laws to ensure safety and security in work environments and at home.

The Maldivian leader also urged the People’s Majlis to deliberate on the Occupational Health and Safety Bill and the Industrial Relations Bill.