Muizzu administration cuts legal officers’ pay amid broad salary hikes; petition filed

Legal officers have submitted a petition to 10 key institutions, raising concerns over salary and benefit reductions despite an overall salary increase implemented by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's administration.

The petition, signed by 81 employees, was submitted on Sunday to the President's Office, the People’s Majlis, the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, Pay Commission, Labor Relations Authority, Local Government Authority, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Civil Service Commission, Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, and the Bar Council.

The legal professionals emphasized that they often work beyond official hours, yet the eighth amendment to the state pay framework has resulted in cuts to benefits, caps on overtime payments, and significant changes to the job matrix for legal officers in civil service institutions and local councils. These adjustments have reduced total compensation compared to previous levels, leaving salaries that, they argue, do not adequately reflect their responsibilities and duties.

Specific concerns include reductions for local council legal officers at CS9-2 grade, whose salaries dropped from MVR 19,161 to MVR 18,920, a decline of MVR 240. The petition also highlighted the elimination of several allowances, including the non-practicing allowance, step allowance, and special duty allowance. The removal of the step allowance, in particular, means that a newly hired employee now earns the same as someone with ten years of service, effectively erasing the benefits of career progression and penalizing long-serving employees.

Attendance-based allowances, while increased under the amendment, are not guaranteed monthly payments, as they are dependent on actual attendance and are withheld during sick leave, family responsibility leave, or annual leave. Legal officers also pointed out that take-home pay has increased for other positions but decreased for themselves, creating growing inequality within civil service compensation.

Changes to working hours have compounded the issue. Before the eighth amendment, an Assistant Legal Officer working six hours a day, five days a week, earned a take-home salary of MVR 13,267. Under the new system, officers working up to eight hours a day, six days a week, a 35 percent increase in working hours, receive only MVR 14,540, representing a mere 0.3 percent rise in compensation.

The petition also pointed to stark disparities with other positions. Assistant Council Executive roles, which previously required only a diploma, have seen salaries rise from MVR 12,397 to MVR 20,230, a jump of MVR 7,833 (or MVR 4,643 excluding attendance benefits), far outpacing legal officers’ gains.

The legal professionals have called for urgent attention to these disparities, requesting a substantial and appropriate salary adjustment that aligns with the President's electoral promises and reflects the responsibilities, workload, and experience of legal officers.