Salaries for Maldives Correctional Service staff remain unchanged despite assurances of a January hike; no officials held accountable
A group of Maldives Correctional Service officers has submitted a signed petition to the President's Office after Home Minister Ali Ihusan failed to fulfill a pledge to increase their salaries by January; however, the issue remains unresolved.
Inauguration of the Central CCTV Monitoring Room for Maldives Correctional Service's "Central Security Command"; Corrections staff disheartened by delays in salary increments. | Maldives Correctional Service | Maldives Correctional Service
It has emerged that the salary increments for Maldives Correctional Service officers, which were scheduled to take effect in January, have yet to be implemented.
A significant number of corrections officers submitted a petition to the President's Office last February, expressing their concerns over the government's failure to implement a promised pay rise. Despite assurances from Home Minister Ali Ihsan that the salary hike would take effect starting in January, corrections staff remain frustrated as the increase has yet to materialize.
An officer from the Maldives Correctional Service told RaajjeMV that employees are raising questions after promised salary increases failed to materialize. The officer further noted that although these concerns have been brought to the attention of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Prisons, as well as the Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, no solution has yet been provided.
"It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner are in hiding. They are avoiding us and refuse to provide any answers. Furthermore, despite employees requesting a meeting with the Minister regarding this matter, there has been no response," the official said.
Last November, after media reports highlighted the government’s failure to address the grievances of prison officers, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusan convened an emergency meeting with Maldives Correctional Service personnel to resolve the issues. Amidst mounting pressure on the administration due to various factors, Ihusaan met with the officers and made several significant pledges to address their concerns.
During a meeting with officers at the time, Ihusan stated that arrangements have been made for Maldives Correctional Service employees to receive increased salaries by the end of February this year, as part of a policy to standardize pay and allowances. He further noted that changes would be made to the medical scheme to ensure that healthcare coverage is extended to include parents and additional family members.
Speaking to RaajjeMV, employees expressed their concerns, stating that Maldives Correctional Service staff appear to be uninformed about the situation. They further noted that the lack of anyone to provide clear answers or take accountability is deeply regrettable.
