A work contract was signed with First Lady Sajidha Mohamed for technical consultancy at the rate of MVR 75 per hour, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has said.
Members of the commission were summoned to Parliament's independent institutions committee on Monday after MPs questioned the CSC's decision to offer special work arrangements for First Lady Sajidha as she wished to remain in her post as a senior scientific officer at the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA).
After her husband Dr. Mohamed Muizzu became President, Sajidha made a request to the Health Ministry to stay in her civil service job while fulfilling the duties of First Lady, CSC members told the committee. The Health Ministry then sought approval from the CSC, they said.
As Sajidha was an experienced official with knowledge in the field, the Health Ministry required her assistance and expert advice, the ministry told the CSC in a letter.
However, CSC members denied claims that a special rule or exception was introduced for Sajidha.
CSC Vice President Ibrahim Rasheed said only the President's political appointees lose their civil service jobs according to the law, which does not apply to the First Lady. Sajidha therefore has the opportunity to continue working as the law does not state that the First Lady would lose her job, he said.
"The law doesn't say she will lose her job because she's the President's wife. Any other decision could only be made by changing the law. A 'special rule' or additional rule was not made for the First Lady. This has been made public in the gazette and is in effect now," the CSC Vice President said.
CSC President Mohamed Nasih said there was no legal obstacle for the First Lady to continue working. However, when flexibility was requested as it was difficult to work full-time while fulfilling the First Lady's duties, the CSC considered whether it could be done under civil service regulations enacted in 2014, Nasih said.
"The regulations do not allow flexibility for a permanent job. However, working on a contract basis is allowed. And the law does not allow going on no-pay for five years either. The maximum that can be given is four years. So Sajidha can do what the Food and Drug Authority requires with wage employment under the CSC regulations," Nasih said.
Sajidha said she did not wish to take the civil service pay, Nasih noted. But as the CSC rules do not allow working without renumeration, it was necessary to pay her a salary, he said.
"When the ministry requested it, a wage employment contract was signed on the 7th of this month to go on no-pay for four years. And seeking technical advice and advice on training employees and formulating regulations was included in [the contract] to work for a maximum of 48 hours every month at the rate of MVR 75 per hour. So the most she would get in a month would be MVR 3,000," Nasih said.
The arrangement was not made because Sajidha was the First Lady, Nasih said, noting that there were other employees who work under the same rules. Examples include civil servants leaving their jobs and working on other projects, he said.
Five employees have been working at the Finance Ministry under the rules since 2018 as well as two employees at the Environment Ministry and three employees at the Housing Ministry.
The First Lady receives an allowance that is one-third of the President's salary, which amounts to MVR 33,330.
Sajidha was actively involved in President Muizzu's campaign ahead of the election. She worked on the campaign after taking a no-pay leave.
