President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided to provide an allowance to essential government employees who work during the last 10 days of Ramadan.
The Finance Ministry said in a circular on Thursday that a procedure has been put in place after the President decided to pay an allowance to employees who are required to work during the 10-day period declared as public holidays.
Only employees who are required to report to work by state institutions that provide essential public services will be eligible for the allowance, the Finance Ministry said.
The allowance will be included in April's salary, according to the circular, which instructed offices to fill out an Excel sheet provided by the ministry with details of how the allowance was paid and to submit it through email before April 18.
Employees eligible for allowance during last 10 days:
- Of the employees required to work during the last 10 days, those who have not shifted to the state pay framework will continue to receive overtime pay and public holiday allowance, and employees who work on a duty basis will receive an allowance equivalent to half of minimum wages earned on a normal day of work.
- For employees who have shifted to the state pay framework, the last 10 days of Ramadan will be considered to be "official public holidays" as stated in the employment law, and they will receive an allowance equivalent to half of minimum wages earned on a normal day of work. Employees exempted under Article 31(a) of the Act will not be eligible.
- The "guideline for providing allowances for working during public holidays" included in the "guidelines of the state pay framework" must be followed.
- The "guideline for providing overtime pay" included in the "guidelines of the state pay framework" must be followed in providing overtime pay during the last 10 days of Ramadan for employees who have shifted to the state pay framework.
- Attendance and benefits will be based on the "guidelines for salary and allowances determined for posts" included in the guidelines of the state pay framework.
After closing for the last 10 days of Ramadan, government offices will reopen after the Eid holidays on April 14.
