The limit on overtime pay for health sector employees on public holidays has been removed.

The previous limit on overtime allowance for health sector employees on public holidays was set during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's government in 2023, in connection with changes made to the salaries of employees in that sector. With those changes, employees were receiving a maximum of ten percent of their basic salary as overtime allowance, even on public holidays.

According to the seventh amendment to the State Pay Framework Standards gazetted today by the National Pay Commission, from the 20th day of Ramadan until the end of the month, all days are to be considered as "official public holidays" as stated in the Employment Act. Employees should be given an allowance equal to half of their daily wage for working on these days, as specified in the law. However, employees exempt from this law are not included in this.

The amendment states that when paying overtime for days declared as government holidays, these days should not be included in the ten percent mentioned in the standard. Instead, overtime should be paid for all work hours that the institution requires employees to work on these days.

For overtime pay from the 20th day of Ramadan until the end of the month, calculations will be made as for official public holidays. In addition to the holidays specified in the official Maldivian calendar, days declared as government holidays by a Presidential Office announcement will also be calculated for overtime pay as official public holidays, according to the amendment.

With the publication of this amendment in the gazette, it has come into effect from today.