Ministry of Finance has disbursed over USD 655,000 as income support allowance to individuals whose sources of income were affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government introduced a monthly income support allowance of USD 323 as compensation to cover the essential expenses of individuals whose employment has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The finance ministry said over USD 655,000 has been disbursed to 2,507 individuals as income support allowance.
The income support allowance is provided for individuals who have been either dismissed or suspended from their jobs without pay, as well as employees who have been sent on no-pay leaves and employees whose monthly wages have been reduced below USD 323. The allowance given for individuals whose wages have been cut will be the difference between USD 323 and their current monthly wages. Independent contractors, performing artists and other freelance workers are also eligible for income support allowance, if their sources of income have been blocked since March 1, 2020.
The eligibility criteria include being a Maldivian citizen living in the Maldives who had been employed by March 1, 2020. They must also be between 18 years and 65 years of age. Furthermore, the conditions for receiving the allowance includes agreeing to participate in a skills development programme allocated by the government and to accept employment arranged through the Job Centre of the government.
The income support allowance policy states the allowance will be given for a period of three months starting from April 1. The allowance for each month has to be given before the 15th day of the next month. The allowance will be discontinued for individuals who are re-employed during the period, starting from the day of re-employment.