The Maldives Government has introduced amendments to the national pay framework standards aimed at preventing misuse of overtime benefits and ensuring fair compensation for public sector employees.
According to the revised guidelines, the changes are designed to resolve long-standing inconsistencies in government service delivery, where differences in work schedules have led to unequal workloads and idle hours across various agencies. The new framework seeks to establish clear and balanced working hours that prioritize both employee welfare and efficient public service.
Under the updated rules, overtime pay will apply for work conducted beyond eight hours per day or beyond the official working hours determined by each government agency. Employees working on public holidays—including the 20th of Ramadan until the end of the month, as well as additional holidays announced by the President’s Office after the 22nd of this month—will also qualify for overtime pay.
The amendment further clarifies that personal time spent outside the workplace will not count toward the standard eight-hour workday. However, meal breaks, prayer times, and childcare hours—as defined in the Employment Act—are exempt from this rule.
The government emphasized that overtime work must be allocated fairly among employees in similar roles and should not disrupt regular operations. Departments have been instructed to approve overtime only when necessary, taking into account each employee’s individual circumstances and living conditions.
The revised standards, now in effect following publication in the Government Gazette, are part of ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in payroll management. The government also assured that no employee will face a reduction in total pay as a result of the changes, noting that special allowances will be granted to compensate any shortfall caused by the adjustment.
Officials stated that the new framework reflects the administration’s broader goal of promoting equity, productivity, and responsible fiscal management across the civil service.
