The workforce of the Road Development Corporation (RDC) has more than doubled within three years, with monthly salary expenditures soaring to MVR 45 million, according to data released by the company.
Statistics provided by the corporation following a Right to Information (RTI) request by Adhadhu show that in November 2023—the final month of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration—the company employed 1,741 staff. That figure has since surged to 3,946, representing an increase of 2,205 employees.
The report, which projects data through August 2026, reveals that the number of permanent employees rose from 230 in November 2023 to 1,547 by August 2026. This marks a nearly sevenfold increase in permanent staff.
During the same period, the number of contract employees grew from 1,511 to 2,399, reflecting a 25 percent increase.
While permanent staff accounted for only 13 percent of the total workforce in November 2023, that proportion has now risen to 39 percent.
The surge in headcount has led to a spike in spending on salaries and benefits. Monthly expenditure on basic salaries has jumped from MVR 8 million to MVR 19.8 million. Additionally, monthly allowances have increased from MVR 13.3 million to MVR 25.9 million.
The statistics indicate that the most significant growth in RDC’s workforce occurred over the past year. In January 2025, the company had 183 employees; however, by January of this year, that number had skyrocketed to 2,902.
This recruitment drive coincided with the local council elections held earlier this year.
