Speaker seeks to impose late fines on MPs
14 ޖުލައި 2020 | އަންގާރަ 11:00Nasheed proposed to allocate 9am as the time sittings begin whereas the parliament’s work will officially begin at 8:30am
Mohamed Nasheed, Parliament Speaker, Former President
Parliament Speaker and former President, Mohamed Nasheed has proposed amendments to the People’s Majlis regulations, seeking to impose late fines on parliamentarians.
During Tuesday’s sitting, Nasheed asked the Gavaaidhu Committee to bring the required amendments to enforce the deduction in salaries of MPs, in accordance with their tardiness.
Nasheed proposed to allocate 9am as the time sittings begin whereas the parliament’s work will officially begin at 8:30am.
As such, the speaker is seeking to jot down the time lawmakers clock in to work when they report to the chamber.
Parliamentarians earn a basic salary of MVR 42,000 with a housing allowance of MVR 20,000 and committee allowance of MVR 20,000 which total MVR 82,000 as monthly earnings.
However, the government has made amendments to this due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, slashing MP salaries by 30 percent following which lawmakers currently earn as much as MVR 69,750 on a monthly basis.
According to the current regulations of the parliament, MPs besides those on leave and sick leave, will face a 50 percent deduction in their earnings for the month should they fail to attend half of the sittings scheduled per month.
