Spokesperson at the President’s Office Mohamed Mabrook Azeez has stated the government does not plan or intend to dismiss or cut wages of any civil servants under the efforts to reduce state expenditure amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He made the statement during a press conference held on August 23 to provide information on the government’s economic recovery efforts and other major activities and programmes.
In response to a question by a journalist regarding rumours that the government is planning to lay off several civil servants and cut wages of others, the spokesperson noted the government did not bring any changes to the wages of civil servants even at the toughest economic situation faced last year, when borders were closed. He said the government has no plans to dismiss any civil servants or cut wages of civil servants amid the ongoing efforts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of special measures imposed last year to reduce state expenditure, the government brought some changes to the wages of political appointees in the government who were earning above USD 1,295 per month. However, no civil servant or political appointee earning less than USD 1,295 were affected by the changes.