Civil servants will receive overtime pay for work during government holidays: ministry

The Ministry of Finance has publicised the over-time regulations for civil servants working during the government holidays declared amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite deciding to disburse over-time payments, the ministry has also instructed offices to make work arrangements as inexpensive as possible. As such, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer has given instructions to arrange all work during working hours.

According to the circular signed by minister Ameer, only essential civil servants will be required to work during the government holidays, which include those active in providing services to the people at government offices and civil servants assisting the government's efforts against Covid-19.

Further, employees released by heads of government offices to provide essential services also qualify for overtime.

As such, over-time will only be given for work done outside of official working hours only.

The circular states that the ongoing government holidays do not count as public holidays.

State revenue is forecasted to take a hit due to the economic impact of Covid-19. It has been revealed that a budget deficit of MVR 12 billion will be incurred. While the government has determined to cut costs by MVR one billion, Minister Ameer has stated that additional cost-cutting measures will be required.